Would you feel gravity on a space elevator?

The elevator will terminate at a space station in geosynchronous orbit where there will be no senstion of gravity. As with all satellites, it will still be in Earth’s gravitational field, but that will be counteracted by the orbital motion of the station so you won’t feel it.

How would a space elevator work?

A space elevator is a proposed transportation system connecting the Earth’s surface to space. The elevator would allow vehicles to travel to orbit or space without the use of rockets. Gravity would pull downward on the cable, while centrifugal force from the orbiting counterweight would pull upward.

What would happen if a space elevator broke?

If the break occurred at higher altitude, up to about 25,000 kilometres (16,000 mi), the lower portion of the elevator would descend to Earth and drape itself along the equator east of the anchor point, while the now unbalanced upper portion would rise to a higher orbit.

What are the benefits of a space elevator?

“The space elevator will reduce the cost of getting from Earth to space. It will also allow us to take very large payloads into space very easily, very safely. Because of that, we can build cities on the moon.

How feasible is a space elevator?

A space elevator is possible with today’s technology, researchers say (we just need to dangle it off the moon) Space elevators would dramatically reduce the cost of reaching space but have never been technologically feasible.

What would be the biggest impact of a space elevator?

Perhaps the biggest factor propelling the idea of a space elevator is that it would significantly lower the cost of putting cargo into space. Although slower than the chemically propelled space shuttle, the lifters reduce launch costs from $10,000 to $20,000 per pound, to approximately $400 per pound.

Why is a space elevator useful?

Why build a space elevator? “The space elevator will reduce the cost of getting from Earth to space. It will also allow us to take very large payloads into space very easily, very safely. Because of that, we can build cities on the moon.

Would a space elevator be safe?

Yes, it would. When the International Space Station is under threat from being hit by a satellite in orbit, it can fire its thrusters to get out of the way. A space elevator, whether it’s anchored to Earth or the moon, is static and immovable. It’s at the complete mercy of any object headed its way.

Are space elevators feasible?

What is the gravitational force on a space elevator cable?

Apparent gravitational field. A space elevator cable rotates along with the rotation of the Earth. Therefore, objects attached to the cable would experience upward centrifugal force in the direction opposing the downward gravitational force.

What is the height of geostationary orbit from the ground?

He considered a similar tower that reached all the way into space and was built from the ground up to the altitude of 35,786 kilometers, the height of geostationary orbit. He noted that the top of such a tower would be circling Earth as in a geostationary orbit.

How does the Earth’s gravity change over time?

“The Earth’s gravity field changes from one month to the next mostly due to the mass of water moving around on the surface,” said Watkins. “Because water in all its forms has mass and weight, we can actually weigh the ocean moving around. We can weigh rainfall, and we can weigh changes in the polar ice caps.”

What is the main technical problem with space elevator cables?

Cable section. Historically, the main technical problem has been considered the ability of the cable to hold up, with tension, the weight of itself below any given point. The greatest tension on a space elevator cable is at the point of geostationary orbit, 35,786 km (22,236 mi) above the Earth’s equator.