Fixing a cable between the earth and moon

[Driller]

Is this possible, what would happen if they managed it? Electrical elevator up and down to the moon?

[welshjon81]

The moon orbits at a different rate to what the earth spins. This is probably the main factor but there are many, many, many,many, many, many, many, MANY(!) more factors that would make this ABSOLUTELY impossible.

[Eric Mc]

Tidal forces would rip it apart.

[the tribester]

Eric Mc said:

Tidal forces would rip it apart.

So there is water on the moon!

[Tim330]

https://what-if.xkcd.com/157/

This explains it well with some humour

[Driller]

Brilliant stuff, thanks! Eric, do you mean the tidal forces Wouid rip the cable apart, even a steel one? (Yeah, I know, today forces are powerful)

[ZedLeg]

Yeah, while orbital tethering is theoretically possible for satellites etc. The forces involved between the moon and the earth would make any kind of physical connection practically impossible.

[NMNeil]

Read Arthur C. Clark's "The Fountains of Paradise"
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/149049.The_Fou...

[geeks]

Tim330 said:

https://what-if.xkcd.com/157/

This explains it well with some humour

"People often say, "It's not the fall that kills you, it's the sudden stop at the end." Unfortunately, in this case, it's probably going to be both."

[FourWheelDrift]

We could get China to fit it, they could stand on shoulders and pass it up.

[Simpo Two]

Eric Mc said:

Tidal forces would rip it apart.

Pah, use stronger cable. But the main problem as I see it is that the Moon orbits the Earth, so it would gradually wind itself in...

Rough numbers:

Distance between Earth and Moon = 240,000 miles.
Circumference of Earth = 25,000 miles.
Hence Moon would do 9.6 orbits before reaching Earth.
Moon orbits Earth every 27.3 days.
Therefore Moon would reach Earth 262 days after connection.
Impact point 15,000 miles west of mooring point.

I'm off to work at NASA, me

[Eric Mc]

I'd like to attend your interview.

[sunbeam alpine]

Simpo Two said:

Eric Mc said:

Tidal forces would rip it apart.

Pah, use stronger cable.

Best look at some kind of chemical anchoring as well.

[frisbee]

Eric Mc said:

I'd like to attend your interview.

His post has units, he's over qualified for NASA.

[Eric Mc]

I’d enjoy attending the interview even more, if that’s the case.

[Driller]

Dammit, I didn’t take the whole moon orbiting the earth thing into account

[Stealthracer]

Driller said:

Dammit, I didn’t take the whole moon orbiting the earth thing into account

Not a problem, just build a big wheel that goes all the way round the earth, and hook the cable onto that.

[Simpo Two]

Eric Mc said:

I'd like to attend your interview.

Sure; back me up and you'll get a crate of Guinness

I can see myself going up to the next Artemis/SLS/Orion thingy, kicking the bottom bit and saying 'That looks a bit weak mate, I'd reinforce that if I were you'.

You have to agree that my logic is impeccable though. Mankind is saved!

[Driller]

Stealthracer said:

Driller said:

Dammit, I didn’t take the whole moon orbiting the earth thing into account

Not a problem, just build a big wheel that goes all the way round the earth, and hook the cable onto that.

Or some sort of trench with a metal profile in it, and a corresponding piece on the end of the cable that would lock into this and slide along

[Simpo Two]

Driller said:

Stealthracer said:

Driller said:

Dammit, I didn’t take the whole moon orbiting the earth thing into account

Not a problem, just build a big wheel that goes all the way round the earth, and hook the cable onto that.

Or some sort of trench with a metal profile in it, and a corresponding piece on the end of the cable that would lock into this and slide along

No that's just silly. What we need to do is strap big rockets onto the moon and fire them until it's geostationary. Then you can fire your cable and off you go. Presumably you have some sort of cable car that whizzes up?