space shuttle take off like airplanes

[wylde1]

Originally Posted by Steve Dallas

My dream for humanity is that someday we build a Space Elevator. We are actually not that far off from having the technology to do it. It would need to be someplace near the equator. If this was done, the cost of getting into space would be minimal, because all the power could come from the station in orbit at the top of the elevator.

There's some BIG money being dumped in this right now. I went to the University of Saskatchewan and we have a space elevator team that heads down the the competition every year. We've won it a couple times, but it's a very cool idea and I don't doubt we'll get there.

EDIT: I posted before watching the video, I didn't know our guys were in it haha We did win the competition that year, but ran just shy of the 1 m/s required for the prize money. Not without controversy though..... There was a team from another school (who shall remain nameless... but they're from the east coast of the states) that for some unknown reason fired up their generators during our run. There is all kinds of instrumentation on the elevators and the judges do monitor for outside electrical interference. Long story short, our signals were jammed and it slowed us down. Judges confirmed outside electrical interference but were unable to pinpoint or prove where it came from. I thought they'd maybe check the only team that had electrical generators running, but hey what do I know haha.

[Overflow]

Originally Posted by Nessal

Actually, if I'm correct, the shuttle actually doesn't travel straight up.

This is true.

Steve pretty much hit the nail on the head with this.

Originally Posted by CamaroSkooter

When you can no longer see a contrail, is that when the shuttle has reached space or is it just in the upper atmosphere at that point?

When this happens, it's in the upper atmosphere.

It's high enough for things to start floating, though.

[2ndgenz28]

Originally Posted by CamaroSkooter

...and watch as the crew and payload turn to mush from the ridiculous G-Forces

Inertial dampers; standard on all space shuttles DUH

[Overflow]

Originally Posted by 2ndgenz28

Inertial dampers; standard on all space shuttles DUH

Thankfully.

[Steve Dallas]

Originally Posted by 2ndgenz28

Inertial dampers; standard on all space shuttles DUH

Inertial Dampeners...how 35th century. Get with the times and use stasis...

[TAG UR IT]

Originally Posted by Steve Dallas

My dream for humanity is that someday we build a Space Elevator. We are actually not that far off from having the technology to do it. It would need to be someplace near the equator. If this was done, the cost of getting into space would be minimal, because all the power could come from the station in orbit at the top of the elevator.

Imagine being 30,000 feet up and having it break.

[Steve Dallas]

Originally Posted by TAG UR IT

Imagine being 30,000 feet up and having it break.

Imagine being at 100,000,000 feet up (stationary orbit is 22236 miles) and having it break

Actually, I am sure such a design would account for that with some form of parachute recovery system.

[KEEP RT]

Check into the X-Prise. Interesting stuff.

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by TAG UR IT

Imagine being 30,000 feet up and having it break.

30,000 feet won't be much worse than say 300 feet. You'll just have longer to realize whats going on.

[IrocJack]

Isn't the space shuttle scraped now?

[Overflow]

Originally Posted by IrocJack

Isn't the space shuttle scraped now?

They're retired.

[2ndgenz28]

Originally Posted by Overflow

They're retired.

Well retired for gov service, they will be retro fitted and fueled to leave at a moments notice to get as many people off planet to a new world when this one ends.

President has always had a secret one.

[ShnOmac]

Originally Posted by 2ndgenz28

Well retired for gov service, they will be retro fitted and fueled to leave at a moments notice to get as many people off planet to a new world when this one ends.

President has always had a secret one.

[Overflow]

Originally Posted by 2ndgenz28

Well retired for gov service, they will be retro fitted and fueled to leave at a moments notice to get as many people off planet to a new world when this one ends.

President has always had a secret one.