Reply To: network security

[theanphibian]

Oh, you’re entirely right. A cannon launcher could target any terrestrial location with ease, since it’s already firing rockets that have to make accurate maneuvers to dock in space. The design calls for one-stage rockets and they would have exactly the same effectiveness as present-day ICBMs. But for that matter, anything sufficiently heavy object in LEO could be used in this manner.

Maybe there is an argument that the space elevator would reduce any malicious threats because it raises things to GSO, from where a de-orbit maneuver could be detected before someone in space sent something plummeting onto Earth. But still, putting a huge number of people into space presents a similar terrorist risk as building Quicklaunch type cannons. And in addition to that, the number of appealing terrorist plots directed at the space elevator itself are intimidating. Considering it must be tethered to Earth one could send it flying into space with an ordinary commercial jet. Then consider the other possibility, the space elevator falling down to Earth – even worse.

It’s interesting to hear what people envision for the specifics. Because even at the technically challenging speed of 120 mph it would take 7.6 days to get to GSO. Even with multiple 30 ton payloads on the tether, something like a Quicklaunch design or just conventional rocket innovation could take up ~1 ton payloads with a frequency greater than what the space elevator could theoretically do before we’ve ever manufactured a square meter of sufficient strength carbon fiber.