[LINK] Japan sets out plans for space elevator

[Ivan Trundle]

On 28/09/2008, at 4:31 PM, Roger Clarke wrote:

> At 16:16 +1000 28/9/08, David Boxall wrote:
>> This may seem wacky, but the idea gets raised with increasing  
>> frequency
>> so there must be something to it.  Implementation could have  
>> significant
>> impacts on telecommunications, particularly in remote areas.
>
> The Wikipedia article is a masterpiece of clarity:
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_elevator
>
>
>> <http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2226676/japan-sets-plans-space-elevator 
>> >
>>
>>> A consortium of scientists and industrial firms has formulated a  
>>> plan
>>> to build a 'space elevator' that would dramatically lower the cost  
>>> of
>>> getting into orbit.

Clarity indeed (for Wikipedia): the section on potential failure will  
have me ducking for cover. I'm not impressed by the lack of citations  
that suggest that a failed cable will fall with the impact of a piece  
of paper.

"Making a cable over 35,000 kilometers long is a difficult task" hits  
the nail on the head.

iT