The Focus Fusion Society Forums Focus Fusion Cafe Space Elevator Reply To: What is the current state of the project?

#7518
Breakable
Keymaster

I don’t see myself a multi-load tether as a solution without improving the concept because it means that the strength of the tether must be increased to accommodate more load.
Actually I even wonder: what is the advantage of using a tether? Basically the only problem it addresses is avoiding reaction mass.
I would love to compare different lifting concepts on efficiency and see their advantages:fanned lifter vs plane vs balloon vs tether.
I think probably balloon would be the most efficient method for lifting.
Of course it would work only until the edge of atmosphere where you would need either a tether or reaction mass (balloon gas?).
That could reduce tether strength requirements and allow for multi-tethering or maybe produce a totally new orbital lifting concept combined with some innovative propulsion concept (dpf?).