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A comment on Space Elevator. Parent comment

Re:Space Elevator by literalAardvark on Monday October 20, 2025 @12:29PM (#45645766)
It's not that simple though. The rocket equation still applies so it's almost as hard to do (you just get rid of atmospheric drag), and failed launches are also extra catastrophic.

Even more, your delta v required is still huge. I can't be bothered to run the numbers right now but most of the delta v is in the orbital velocity, not in the altitude.

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Re:Space Elevator by BobaFloutist on Monday October 20, 2025 @01:45PM (#45646830)
Delta v feels reductive, since your fighting negative acceleration to go up and a fraction of that to go laterally, no?
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Re:Space Elevator by JumpCrisscross on Monday October 20, 2025 @02:47PM (#45647606)
> since your fighting negative acceleration to go up and a fraction of that to go laterally

They’re both acceleration. At high thrust, virtually equivalent.

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Re:Space Elevator by lazide on Monday October 20, 2025 @02:35PM (#45647455)
They’re the same thing. Either you go sideways really fast, or go straight up really far (geo-synchronous distance).

Either way, you need the same total velocity delta.

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