NPR Talks Skyhooks

David writes "NPR's Talk of the Nation this past week featured Brad Edwards, President of Carbon Designs Inc., to talk about their plans to develop an elevator that would lift people to an object orbiting in outer space. The project's homepage details their plans and ambitions. The discussion expands on callers' concerns about such problems as commercial airliners running into the super long cable or if it would act as a conduit for lightning."

Skyhooks?

[imroy]

Does the audio program mention the word "skyhook"?
Why bring up the Aussie 70's supergroup [wikipedia.org]?

Obligatory Simpsons comment

[Exluddite]

I hope this isn't going to be anything like the escalator to nowhere...

Stuck...

[Anonymous Coward]

Would Not Like to be stuck if that elevator breaks down :|

Answer

[Rosco P. Coltrane]

From TFA:

We firmly believe that the set of technologies that underlie the infinite promise of the Space Elevator can be demonstrated, or proven infeasible, within a 5 year time-frame. And hence our name. Elevator:2010. we promise to get an answer for you by then.

Message 5 years from now:

42

I just have to ask...

[NotQuiteReal]

When the space elevator is built, just what kind of elevator music will it have?

The longest song in my MP3 collection is 22:43 (Autobahn by Kraftwerk - even on topic, sort of...) Is that long enough for the ride up? How many quarters do I need to put in the slot?

Muzak

[Anonymous Coward]

According to the website, the elevator will move at 200 mph. Considering that our atmosphere is roughly 380 miles, I'm going to have to listen to Kenny G for almost 2 hours!

Re:The next x-prize

[drwho]

Any such competition would likely come with "strings attached". ;)

kiddies beware...

[moviepig.com]

I guess the old prank of jumping onto a crowded car and pushing all the buttons would be a no-no...

What NPR talks about after the skyhook...

[flag burning]

I could probably use that to find myself a life...

Re:Nothing new under the sun

[pentalive]

I don't think the space elevator is quite as ambitious as the tower of Babble, After all the space elevator only goes to orbit, not to Heaven.

Re:Skyhooks?

[pintomp3]

what does space have to do with kareem abdul jabbar?

*reference may be lost on /.*

Shadows of America

[The_Minkis]

Why build a skyhook? You know Dash Rendar's just going to fly by and blow it up...

Re:Nothing new under the sun

[Timberwolf0122]

Like building a tower of babel is hard! I've built serveral, the secret is realising that
"ooo heavean is a place on earth"

I thankyou.