Wanna Go to Space? You Can Take an Elevator (Maybe Someday)Yahoo Travel
Sid Lipsey Sep 26, 2014
Plans underway for an elevator to space (Photo: Obayashi)That time you got trapped in the elevator with the ex who lives in your building. Or that time you had to travel down 30 floors with a couple who was having a bitter argument. Or that time you just got stuck.
No matter how you describe “the longest elevator ride ever,” we guarantee this one would be even longer.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) website reports that Japanese construction firm Obayashi is planning to build an elevator to space. It would take you 59,000 miles up to an orbiting space station, and the ride takes a whole week.
It’s part of multiple efforts underway to make space the next hot tourist destination. And a lot of us could be around to to see it: Obayashi plans to have the space elevator done by the year 2050.
How will this project work? Magnets!
The space elevator would consist of a robotic car powered by a magnetic motor. The car would travel up a cable made of superthin and superstrong carbon nanotubes that are almost a hundred times stronger than steel.
Next stop on this elevator: space (Photo: Obayashi)The space elevator would hold about 30 people. And since it’s expected to be in operation in a relatively quick 35 years, many of us will have to ask ourselves: if we’re going to travel to space, do we really want to do it in a week-long elevator ride? What if there’s that ex or arguing couple scenario? What if it gets stuck (being stuck 30,000 miles up would be even worse than getting stuck between the 10th and 11th floor)? Let’s hope there’s an emergency button.
And the most dreaded prospect of all: having to listen to a week’s worth of elevator music. One can only listen to so much “Girl From Impanema.”
So, would you ride a space elevator? Vote in our poll and sound off in our comments.
https://www.yahoo.com/travel/wanna-go-to-space-you-can-take-an-elevator-maybe-98472653227.html
