Re:Japan starts space elevator experiments
by amelius on Sunday September 02, 2018 @04:27PM
(#17898478)
Not sure if this would work, but how about using a wire with evenly-spaced metal beads, then using a magnet (a large one like used in MRI machines) to pull up the cart? You'll probably have to turn the magnet on/off at a specific frequency, depending on the momentum of the cart, which could be a challenge.
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Re:Japan starts space elevator experiments
by p1mrx on Sunday September 02, 2018 @04:51PM
(#17898575)
power = force * distance / time
If you want constant acceleration, you need to maintain constant force. A higher-velocity vehicle applies that force across a greater distance per unit time, and therefore requires more power.
Accelerating 1 metric ton at 1g requires 9800 N. So at peak velocity (18 km/s), that's 180 megawatts per ton, which is more than 700 times the power to mass ratio of a Tesla P100D.