Doing things like mining asteroids and being able to create and clear space junk aka satellites are exciting prospects, but getting into space is dirty business. So how about we remove that dirty and expensive step by simply installing an elevator that takes us outside of the atmosphere and essentially cuts the cost down to be negligible.
I asked Gemini and it said this:
Space elevators are a theoretical concept for a megastructure that would provide a permanent connection between Earth's surface and space. While there are significant engineering challenges to overcome, the idea remains an exciting possibility for the future of space exploration.
Here's a simplified breakdown of how a space elevator might work:
A massive cable, made of a yet-to-be-developed ultra-strong material, would be anchored to the equator and extend tens of thousands of kilometers into space.
A counterweight at the far end of the cable would balance the structure and keep the cable taut.
Earth's rotation would generate centrifugal force, counteracting gravity and keeping the cable upright.
Vehicles or climbers would ascend and descend the cable, transporting cargo and people into space.
The potential benefits of space elevators are numerous:
Drastically reduced launch costs compared to traditional rockets.
Easier and more frequent access to space for scientific research and tourism.
Potential for revolutionizing space-based solar power generation.
However, there are significant challenges that need to be addressed before space elevators become a reality.
The development of a material with sufficient strength-to-weight ratio to construct the cable.
Maintaining the cable's integrity in the harsh space environment.
The enormous financial and engineering resources required for construction.
Despite these challenges, space elevators remain an intriguing possibility for the future. Research into advanced materials and engineering techniques continues, and one day, they may become a reality.
It's a cable that has to be built from a material we don't even have in labs now, and if it ever fails, a strip of land that stretches half-way around the earth will be completely devastated.
My prediction is: We're almost at the end of technological progress. Our household appliances, roads, buildings, cars, even phones and computers are now built shittier than they were 20 years ago. Science is caught in a publish-or-perish spiral where the quantity of papers you publish is more important than quality. Reproducing results and thorough peer review almost don't happen anymore, cause that doesn't bring in grant money.
Meanwhile we're steering towards a climate catastrophy that will trigger a new migration period that's 1000x bigger than the one that killed off the Roman Empire.
Couldn't we have drones attached to the cable that could catch it if it falls?
We're almost at the end of technological progress. Our household appliances, roads, buildings, cars, even phones and computers are now built shittier than they were 20 years ago. Science is caught in a publish-or-perish spiral where the quantity of papers you publish is more important than quality. Reproducing results and thorough peer review almost don't happen anymore, cause that doesn't bring in grant money.
Meanwhile we're steering towards a climate catastrophy that will trigger a new migration period that's 1000x bigger than the one that killed off the Roman Empire.