First, what is a space elevator? A space elevator is a many-miles-long cable that has one end anchored on the ground, and the other end in geostationary orbit, 26,199 statute miles above Earth's equator. Centrifugal force would keep the cable from collapsing back to Earth. Vehicles would ascend and descend the cable to put loads into space from various points along the cable.
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> Current materials aren't strong enough to build such a cable on Earth; however one could be built on the Moon, which has one-sixth of Earth's gravity. That still doesn't help us get to space from Earth, however.
I'd like to propose an alternative method, which I call a "Dyson Ring." This name is derived from the concept of a Dyson Sphere, which is the theoretical concept of building a sphere that completely surrounds a planet. The concept of a Dyson Sphere featured in one of the Star Trek movies.
A Dyson Ring would also surround the entire planet, but would require far less material and time to construct. Like an infinite arch, it would be very strong and able to support itself once built...and support space launch facities that would require far less energy to put loads into orbit than launching from the ground. I think I know how a Dyson ring could be built with existing technology...and some recently re-discovered technology: Roman concrete.
I'll expand on this concept in several future posts, as time permits.
For more than a better world, indeed, an open universe,
Dan
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