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Space Elevator

(neal.fun)
1773 points kaonwarb | 1 comments | 20 Oct 25 04:42 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
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grishka ◴[20 Oct 25 21:48 UTC] No.45649853[source]▶
I get it that it requires yet-impossible materials to build a space elevator that goes all the way to space, but what if we instead build one that only extends high enough to clear the thickest layers of atmosphere, so rockets could be launched from there for massive fuel savings?
replies(2): >>45650298 #>>45652101 #
1. tgsovlerkhgsel ◴[20 Oct 25 22:35 UTC] No.45650298[source]▶
We can't practically build a tower that tall. A space elevator would work by hanging off a counterweight (possibly more space elevator cable) which means it needs to go past geostationary orbit.