Japan starts work on $9B 'space elevator'

[Drums of War]

Japan shows the world, and the US how not having a huge defense budget can lead to great scientific discoveries and breakthroughs like this. This is the sort of stuff the US should be doing, instead we are buying banks for $700 billion and giving Iraq and others more billions. I really hope this works....

From cyborg housemaids and waterpowered cars to dog translators and rocket boots, Japanese boffins have racked up plenty of near-misses in the quest to turn science fiction into reality.

Now the finest scientific minds of Japan are devoting themselves to cracking the greatest sci-fi vision of all: the space elevator. Man has so far conquered space by painfully and inefficiently blasting himself out of the atmosphere but the 21st century should bring a more leisurely ride to the final frontier.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle4799369.ece

[Ptolemy]

Originally Posted by Drums of War

Japan shows the world, and the US how not having a huge defense budget can lead to great scientific discoveries and breakthroughs like this. This is the sort of stuff the US should be doing, instead we are buying banks for $700 billion and giving Iraq and others more billions. I really hope this works....

I've seen/heard of space elevators in those futuristic shows, but Japan is starting work on it? If only countries were dedicated in promoting the sciences instead of fighting wars and worrying about what McCain/Obama will do in office, we could be settling the Moon, going to mars, and saving the planet.

[Tony Montana]

Originally Posted by Ptolemy

I've seen/heard of space elevators in those futuristic shows, but Japan is starting work on it? If only countries were dedicated in promoting the sciences instead of fighting wars and worrying about what McCain/Obama will do in office, we could be settling the Moon, going to mars, and saving the planet.

Exactly. Mankind spends some much for wars over stupid things that we will never get anything accomplished other then killing ourselves and destroying our earth.

Look at the US for example. We are retiring our space shuttle and going back to a 50's ear rocket to get us into space. Instead of going forward we took 50 steps back.

[Ptolemy]

Originally Posted by Tony Montana

Exactly. Mankind spends some much for wars over stupid things that we will never get anything accomplished other then killing ourselves and destroying our earth.

Look at the US for example. We are retiring our space shuttle and going back to a 50's ear rocket to get us into space. Instead of going forward we took 50 steps back.

It's almost shameful, isn't it? To think that humankind could be so much better as a race, but we like to blow things up and quarrel about religion, don't we.

ALSO JAPAN is getting richer with all their technology while are economy is dying because we're spending so much money on this terrible war. We should just let that country deal with their own problems while we try to rebuild our country.

[Infinite911911]

Originally Posted by Haisike

ALSO JAPAN is getting richer with all their technology while are economy is dying because we're spending so much money on this terrible war. We should just let that country deal with their own problems while we try to rebuild our country.

It must be nice for Japan having America be there to defend it and not having to spend its money on a large military. But I happy for Japan and the world because Im sure while working on this they will discover many new technologies.

[Ptolemy]

Originally Posted by Infinite911911

It must be nice for Japan having America be there to defend it and not having to spend its money on a large military. But I happy for Japan and the world because Im sure while working on this they will discover many new technologies.

Sure, they will acquire new technologies, but the real question is if Japan will share their knowledge with us. If they don't, we might not defend them anymore, and I don't think Japan is willing to take that risk. I wonder what Japan will discover.

[Drums of War]

Originally Posted by Ptolemy

Sure, they will acquire new technologies, but the real question is if Japan will share their knowledge with us. If they don't, we might not defend them anymore, and I don't think Japan is willing to take that risk. I wonder what Japan will discover.

They will because they would want to sell that technology. Once its out in products anyone could get it. Besides, if all else fails we still have the CIA.

[Ptolemy]

Originally Posted by Drums of War

They will because they would want to sell that technology. Once its out in products anyone could get it. Besides, if all else fails we still have the CIA.

If Japan discovers something that puts them far enough ahead of the rest of the world, I doubt they will tell the US that they have found anything. If they did that, we would have no way of knowing if Japan has a militaristic or some other advantage.