[DickHardknocks @ Oct 23rd 2007 9:41AM]

The Space Elevator project is absolutely ridiculous. Either its a way of diverting funds into a few key pockets, or its a vast conspiracy against the American taxpayer to create projects which lack rationality - like the planned US Embassy (Castle) in Iraq.

#1 The Material science isn't there yet. Nanoparticle cables might work but anything less does not have the strength to withstand the tremendous forces.

#2 Its ridiculously expensive for a country that CAN'T AFFORD HEALTHCARE OR SOCIAL SECURITY, yet is DETERMINED spend a billion dollars a day in IRAQ. Regardless what the 'projections' are, the true costs will be upwards of 3 Trillion Dollars considering maintenance and the fact you have to protect the structures from terrorism, space debris,etc.

#3 Everyone knows that when the Covenant invade Earth in a few years, the Space elevator is going to be destroyed and fall on the African Plains.

[j.R @ Oct 23rd 2007 9:43AM]

I'm thinking more of a Locust emergence really

[Jugomugo @ Oct 23rd 2007 10:02AM]

OP = WIN.

[macona @ Oct 23rd 2007 11:14AM]

Dont worry, the Gundams should be in place to protect it by them.

[GenericWhiteGuy @ Oct 23rd 2007 12:38PM]

I'm not sure if the first part of your comment was just to make the third point funnier but I'll assume you were serious...

This is a contest sponsored by NASA to encourage private research paid with private money. NASA is only paying the administrative costs of the contest and prize money if the contestant passes the tests. The prize money, if it is ever paid out is far less than the cost of basic research.

Your comment that the material science isn't there yet-- how exactly do you expect that material science to be developed if you don't want to spend any money developing the science? It isn't going to just appear fully-formed one day.

Your point that this will be expensive-- no kidding. What you fail to notice is that nobody has committed to building this. There is no budget. We aren't spending "trillions of dollars" on a space elevator. Again this is a contest to encourage private investment in basic science in the hope that this will not cost trillions of dollars.

Your concern about protecting this from terrorism... What a sad scary world you live in. Should we all curl up in a ball and hide? Don't do anything to attract attention!

I have a image in my mind of you rocking back and forth on the floor thinking, "I should go to the store to get groceries, but if I do that then I'm just more of a target for terrorists!"

Finally, when the Covenent attack I'll feel better knowing that we used those space elevators to build defensive platforms and spaceships so Master Chief can win the fight.

[GenericWhiteGuy @ Oct 23rd 2007 12:41PM]

I'm not sure if the first part of your comment was just to make the third point funnier but I'll assume you were serious...

This is a contest sponsored by NASA to encourage private research paid with private money. NASA is only paying the administrative costs of the contest and prize money if the contestant passes the tests. The prize money, if it is ever paid out is far less than the cost of basic research.

Your comment that the material science isn't there yet-- how exactly do you expect that material science to be developed if you don't want to spend any money developing the science? It isn't going to just appear fully-formed one day.

Your point that this will be expensive-- no kidding. What you fail to notice is that nobody has committed to building this. There is no budget. We aren't spending "trillions of dollars" on a space elevator. Again this is a contest to encourage private investment in basic science in the hope that this will not cost trillions of dollars.

Your concern about protecting this from terrorism... What a sad scary world you live in. Should we all curl up in a ball and hide? Don't do anything to attract attention!

I have a image in my mind of you rocking back and forth on the floor thinking, "I should go to the store to get groceries, but if I do that then I'm just more of a target for terrorists!"

Finally, when the Covenent attack I'll feel better knowing that we used those space elevators to build defensive platforms and spaceships so Master Chief can win the fight.