>> As I see it there are three ways to get things into orbit (or a battle)
>> ....
4) Space Elevator.
And Ye call yeself a brin fan.
But the point is to use existing, known technology. The goal is to
propose programs that will be seen by everyone as having a very good
chance of success.
Yes, a space elevator is a good method, once the technology becomes
available. So is hydrogen, helium-3, or hydrogen-boron fusion. (The
latter is my favorite. I dream about the consequences.)
However, we cannot predict how successful any of these technologies
will be or how soon they will appear.
Personally, I think the US should spend US$100 billion/year
researching fusion. The EU should, too: indeed, the EU could spend
this as its `moral equivalent of war', and spend another US$200
billion/year on other alternative sources of energy.
A part of the research on `alternative sources of energy' must include
funding of the kinds of material research that could lead to a space
elevator, since a space elevator could be used to lift the materials
to build large space-based solar collectors.
--
Robert J. Chassell Rattlesnake Enterprises
http://www.rattlesnake.com GnuPG Key ID: 004B4AC8
http://www.teak.cc [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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