Re:The Spaceline: a space elevator alternative achievable wi...
by Retric on Friday September 06, 2019 @05:30PM
(#20900079)
Needing to apply force to a tiny strand at high speed is a difficult problem. So far even 40mph has been a major issue. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_elevator_competitions
Several of these winners achieved less than 5mph and this is near earth so without the issues of supplying power over thousands of miles.
The cars are limited by human reaction time, the aircraft are limited by air resistance, the ISS is a space station and all the constituent parts had to be brought up to that speed in the first place from the ground by rockets.
The main advantage of the category that space elevators are a part of is that energy and reaction mass doesn’t need to be carried with you as when you use a rocket, which makes them much easier.