The biggest problem for space exploration right now is conquering LEO. An actual space elevator appears to be generations away. Here's an idea, I'm sure if its 100% possible but I think it is...
A 60km-80km Pyramid (tall enough to escape 99% of the Earths Air resistance) composed of crystalline titanium/steel/another substance. Instead of elevators, the pyramid uses trains that spiral around it all the way to the top.The trains would be the most advanced possible. The bottom floors would be very large, perhaps the structure could be anchored by a mountain. After about 20 km, it would be impractical/perhaps impossible to build a large structure, at this point the structure would start to get a good deal smaller. At a height of around 40km, the structure would be shortened even more, focusing on only supporting enough weight to carry two train tracks, one going up and one going down. On the bottom levels, a road might be able to spiral around with the train tracks if the structure was large enough. This would greatly decrease the need for elevators on the bottom floors which would compromise the structural integrity.
At the top of the structure there would be a few different options, keep in mind that at this point though we are technically in space, we still trapped within Earth's gravity and have not achieved escape velocity:
A) A Launch Pad for launching Rockets, these rockets could simply accelerate into orbit, or could accelerate out of Earth's gravity well. Seems like a waste, but this would actually be very beneficial, we would not have to overcome air resistance on rocket launches and the crafts would not have to be as structurally sound.
Docking with the top of the structure would be tricky, but perhaps theoretically possible, perhaps similar to landing on an air craft carrier, as the craft passes the structure a hook and a cable are attached which slow it down and reel it in. Or, no crafts launched from the structure ever dock, they simply connect together at a 60 km orbit, they could form a structure there where supplies was sent, until at one point they could be launched into escape velocity.
The next part sounds very crazy but it might be possible to extend a thin cable from the top of the structure to a satellite/small station 30,000miles out. Sort of like an actual space elevator but not quite. Even if this cable was only strong enough to carry electricity, it would be well worth it.
Another option would be constructing a rail gun on top of the structure that fired satellites into orbit.
In any case, it would create a butt ton of jobs.
If this structure was possible, it would generate HUGE amounts of revenue very quickly. Governments, MNCs (Multinational corporations), and private investors could pool funds and each own a share of the elevator, sort of like owning stock in a company, but it would be mainly for distributing profits.
Other thoughts:
Perhaps nothing would need to come down the structure, instead objects could be parachuted down and the parachutes recycled.
Concerns:
Terrorism
Funding
This proposal is more of a capitalist solution rather than a governmental fascist/socialist/centrally planned solution to space, and in my opinion, much more feasible, the whole point is creating profit, and making it worth it. Which would bring in investment.
Solutions to Terrorism, for example - a plane crashing into the structure.
A) Isolating the structure, giving it a giant air space, very advanced radar tracking/anti-air systems.
B) Inter-governmental treaty against attacking the structure
C) Making the first 20km basically entirely solid, the point is not to use this as a building, the point is supporting the top.
A missile or a plane hitting a 20km tall and miles thick structure isn't going to do ****.
Oh, one more thing. I don't know if this would actually work, but, heres another method of launching objects from the top of the space elevator.
At the top of the space elevator (remember how there is no air resistance, well basically none), there could be a ring. This ring would be connected to the elevator in the center, it would spin around its axis. It could also slow down. Since the space elevator would be connected directly to the ground and powered by nuclear reactors/other ground-based energy sources, there would hopefully be enough energy to spin the ring to a high enough velocity to launch objects into orbit.
For example:
Trains take a cargo container up the space elevator.
At the top, the cargo is loaded onto the ring. The ring begins spinning and continues spinning until it reaches a speed where it can launch the object out into space far enough to escape gravity.
A 60km-80km Pyramid (tall enough to escape 99% of the Earths Air resistance) composed of crystalline titanium/steel/another substance. Instead of elevators, the pyramid uses trains that spiral around it all the way to the top.The trains would be the most advanced possible. The bottom floors would be very large, perhaps the structure could be anchored by a mountain. After about 20 km, it would be impractical/perhaps impossible to build a large structure, at this point the structure would start to get a good deal smaller. At a height of around 40km, the structure would be shortened even more, focusing on only supporting enough weight to carry two train tracks, one going up and one going down. On the bottom levels, a road might be able to spiral around with the train tracks if the structure was large enough. This would greatly decrease the need for elevators on the bottom floors which would compromise the structural integrity.
At the top of the structure there would be a few different options, keep in mind that at this point though we are technically in space, we still trapped within Earth's gravity and have not achieved escape velocity:
A) A Launch Pad for launching Rockets, these rockets could simply accelerate into orbit, or could accelerate out of Earth's gravity well. Seems like a waste, but this would actually be very beneficial, we would not have to overcome air resistance on rocket launches and the crafts would not have to be as structurally sound.
Docking with the top of the structure would be tricky, but perhaps theoretically possible, perhaps similar to landing on an air craft carrier, as the craft passes the structure a hook and a cable are attached which slow it down and reel it in. Or, no crafts launched from the structure ever dock, they simply connect together at a 60 km orbit, they could form a structure there where supplies was sent, until at one point they could be launched into escape velocity.
The next part sounds very crazy but it might be possible to extend a thin cable from the top of the structure to a satellite/small station 30,000miles out. Sort of like an actual space elevator but not quite. Even if this cable was only strong enough to carry electricity, it would be well worth it.
Another option would be constructing a rail gun on top of the structure that fired satellites into orbit.
In any case, it would create a butt ton of jobs.
If this structure was possible, it would generate HUGE amounts of revenue very quickly. Governments, MNCs (Multinational corporations), and private investors could pool funds and each own a share of the elevator, sort of like owning stock in a company, but it would be mainly for distributing profits.
Other thoughts:
Perhaps nothing would need to come down the structure, instead objects could be parachuted down and the parachutes recycled.
Concerns:
Terrorism
Funding
This proposal is more of a capitalist solution rather than a governmental fascist/socialist/centrally planned solution to space, and in my opinion, much more feasible, the whole point is creating profit, and making it worth it. Which would bring in investment.
Solutions to Terrorism, for example - a plane crashing into the structure.
A) Isolating the structure, giving it a giant air space, very advanced radar tracking/anti-air systems.
B) Inter-governmental treaty against attacking the structure
C) Making the first 20km basically entirely solid, the point is not to use this as a building, the point is supporting the top.
A missile or a plane hitting a 20km tall and miles thick structure isn't going to do ****.
Oh, one more thing. I don't know if this would actually work, but, heres another method of launching objects from the top of the space elevator.
At the top of the space elevator (remember how there is no air resistance, well basically none), there could be a ring. This ring would be connected to the elevator in the center, it would spin around its axis. It could also slow down. Since the space elevator would be connected directly to the ground and powered by nuclear reactors/other ground-based energy sources, there would hopefully be enough energy to spin the ring to a high enough velocity to launch objects into orbit.
For example:
Trains take a cargo container up the space elevator.
At the top, the cargo is loaded onto the ring. The ring begins spinning and continues spinning until it reaches a speed where it can launch the object out into space far enough to escape gravity.
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