Space elevator – level 2

Space elevator

24-04-2024 15:00

Since the 19th century, scientists were thinking of building a space elevator.

Getting into space is not cheap at all, because rockets have to carry a lot of fuel to be even able to leave the Earth. Therefore, getting to the Moon or Mars costs millions of dollars. A space elevator would make getting into space much cheaper.

The problem is that people don’t have the right technologies and materials to build such an elevator. Experts came up with the idea of using carbon nanotubes. This material is stronger than any other material, but even if it was possible to build the elevator, small objects which orbit the Earth would probably damage it.

Difficult words: technology (machines, devices, and ways of doing things), nanotube (many carbon atoms together which look like tubes), orbit (to move around an object).

You can watch the original video in the Level 3 section.

What is the main problem preventing the development of a space elevator, and what material has been proposed as a solution?

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