Space elevator stuck at ground level
NASA keeps its cash as X-Prize Cup fails to find a winner
It was a showcase of high-tech space technology, but this weekend's X-Prize Cup was cursed by mis-directed post, mis-measured competition equipment and entrants that nearly blew away in the wind.
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Comments
I have always had a nagging question about the space elevator concept - What effect would a large lightning bolt have on the ribbon? A carbon nannotube or fiber ribbon would be conductive (wet or dry) and would be a perfect lightning rod when going through many kilometers of atmosphere. Would not a large strike burn off all or part of this ribbon (there is limited material) and if cut would not the orbital counterweight and climber end up tethered together in some random high orbit?
Posted by: Michael B | October 25, 2006 08:37 AM
I have had a similar nagging question as well. A lot like yours, but different. The upper atmosphere and the ground are at different potentials ( electrical charges). The way I understand it, a tether would act like a big conduit for this electrical charge. I would assume due to the resistance of the carbon or whatever matter you used, it would evaporate at best from the heat. Unless you have a tether made from something more resistant than air? Best I can tell air that is not latent with moisture is pretty highly resistant to current. I'm no chemist or physicist so please someone tell me why this is not true. Surely this is not an issue and I am just missing some information here.
The way some scientist study lighting is by launching a rocket up with a copper tether. This triggers lighting even on a clear day and best I can tell it combusts the copper instantly when they do this.
Posted by: Wes Heaton | May 25, 2007 03:45 AM
This triggers lighting even on a clear day and best I can tell it combusts the copper instantly when they do this.
Posted by: Chat | May 25, 2007 11:45 AM