Academic

COOL: Rotating Space Elevator Propels Its Own Load. ?The idea of the space elevator just got a lit?

By Glenn Reynolds

COOL: Rotating Space Elevator Propels Its Own Load. “The idea of the space elevator just got a little crazier. While the ‘traditional’ concept involved using rocket propulsion or laser light pressure to propel loads up a cable anchored to Earth, a new study shows that a rotating space elevator could do away with engines or laser light pressure application completely. Instead, the unique double rotating motion of looped strings could provide a mechanism for objects to slide up the elevator cable into outer space. The space elevator could launch satellites and spacecraft with humans, and even be used to host space stations and research posts.”

Full post as published by Instapundit.com on May 24, 2009 (boomark / email).