Will space elevators ever be built?

Will space elevators ever be built?

Maybe. Not any time soon, though.

Would it be really expensive to build one?

Yes.

But it would be cheaper than building a rocket, right?

I doubt it. From what I've read/heard about the concept, it doesn't seem like a good investment. For all the money saved shipping things up it once it's built, the initial cost is staggering, and the risks coming from it snapping/falling that it's an unacceptable risk.

Maybe.

I think it depends on whether or not we master SSTO spacecraft.

Bump

How many times do I have to tell you fuckers that space doesn't exist? Holy fuck.

This will never actually be built, but thanks for playing.

No. Space elevators will become obsolete before the first one is ever built.

Maybe, maybe not. It all depends on how well the SABRE demonstrator works out.

At least once more.

On Moon or Mars maybe but not on Earth.

why does Veeky Forums love the memelon so much? is it because it looks futuristic? is it because they want to like something different from spacex?

>Will space elevators ever be built?
On Earth? NO
On Moon, YES

Any idea when the first tests will be run on a completed SABRE?

They already have.

Just not on this planet.
Or this solar system.
Or this galaxy.

But somewhere. Definitely.

Bump

They're supposed to be building a quarter-scale ground demonstrator. Dunno when it will be finished.

Where would the maximum force due to air resistance be?

What about a skyhook?

The material doesn't exist

It may never exist, it's possible the stresses of a structure like that exceed the tensile strength of any possible compound. Those carbon nanotubes they're experimenting with? Stronger than any fiber in existence, still about 40 times too weak for a space elevator