Space Elevator?  Is it really feasible?
101373
Maybe somewhere far in the future. It would have to have a geosynchronous orbit, meaning that its orbit matches the Earth's rotation, otherwise the tether would be wrapped around the planet, and/or it would pull the orbitting object(s) to the ground.\n\nBut if we had an elevator going to it, would it really be an orbitting platform? Wouldn't it just be the tallest structure on the planet?
39004
Its not impractical because you have perpetual motion in space get it spinning and it will spin forever at the same speed.  No friction.  Thats the only way to do it because you can create Gravity like on startrek
337121
yes.\nSome very clever people managed to teletransport a photon of light from one side of a lab to the other. But dont get your hopes up being able to transport people between starships and the planet they orbit.....
703456
I don't know what exactly is your question! If anti-gravity could be manipulated ever, i think if would be very useful for us, maybe even in interstellar travels.
474836
Heres a great page on the history and creation of the elevator:\n\nhttp://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blelevator.htm
725131
This would be a terrible idea.\n1)  First of all, it would be horribly unsafe.  Even the safest 'man-rated' rocket boosters have a failure rate of 1/1000.  That is nowhere nearly a safe enough ratio for moving hundreds of tons of Highly Radioactive wastes into even a Solar orbit.\n2) You say 'space' like that is the end of it.  Orbit around the earth?  Orbits, even Clarke orbits decay, and here comes the waste back.  Solar orbits?  These also need to be carefully calcualted to prevent a future mishap or collison.   Interstellar space?  I'm sure that that would be a nice friendly gift for any other life forms out there, our waste?\n3)  This would be fabuolosly expensive.  Currently it costs about US $10,000 a pound to send something to high orbit.  \n4) It is unnecessary to do this.  We have proven technologies for 'filtering' or reprocessing wastes to recover fissionable materials for re-use in reactor cores.  We have technologies for using wastes themselves to generate power and more fuel (Breeder reactors).  Baisically the stumbling block is no one wants these facilities in their neighborhood and the failure of our politicians to address these problems in a logical and scientifically sound strategy.
958904
Building an engine that can get close to the speed of light is much easier, we basically know how to do it now, a low thruse engine that can run for long periods of time in space will just keep accelerating since there is no resistance. NASA is now developing such engines - ion engines.\n\nConversly we don't really have any good ideas on how to build an engine to bend space, or if it is even possible.
455124
The answer is a definite Maybe.\nAs for the space elevator, my understanding is that to complete one, we would need an ultrathin, ultralight, flexible material wit a tensile strength surpassing all we have now. Quantum Physics is THE tool for people who design new materials. Without using quantum physics, it would all be simply trial and error.\nTime travel is a very slippery subject and I can't comment on that. Right now we have no idea how to begin thinking about it.\nMolecular transport, as in beaming stuff the Star Trek way?\nI'd say there's a lot of problems with that, but quantum physics is the very starting point. All that happens to molecules is subject to quantum laws. Therefore I don't know if qf can bring those things abot. However, nothing else can.
227550
If the question is: If there a machine that can create the sense of weightlessness.\n\nYes there is. That's the kind of machine the astronauts use to practice.
272490
Structures in space are built the old-fashioned way with cranes, hand tools, portable electric tools, etc.  What you're talking about is so expensive and so far in the future it's only in people's dreams right now, like landing on the moon was a hundred years ago.
299116
The water powered elevator. Problem is......You need a water wheel. Well....if you have a water wheel well you are probably not in a place that needs an elevator. I really need to seriously rethink this.
996272
There is a little research and some guy even wrote a book claiming that teleportation is feasible.  But don't buy your home teleportation machine yet.  As yet the only thing that has been transported is a few laser beams.
1076466
Cool, thanks so much for the idea. I believe that the space industry would love it.\n\nI have a few connections with Raytheon (formally Hughs Aircraft) and a few connection within the military. I will take my idea to them and see if I can get it started.
1041240
they say warp drive is possible but first we must discover negative energy then form a bubble around a ship with it as space behind us expands then space in front contracts then it propels us foward through contracted space making a trip to mars significantly shorter. phasers are possible by igniting electrons which causes a chain reaction which wil burn a target with large amounts of heat maybe enough to incinerate it. want a communicator go to verizon and buy a flip phone. if you want an entertainment system like data and want songs on demand go buy an ipod. well thats about it to see more stuff like this tune into the history channel now and again
596034
Yes, any sting would ultimately break under its own weight given sufficient length.  \n\nScientists have actually proposed using a string (cable) to create a space elevator for transporting materials to and from space.  One of the biggest technical challenges they face is finding a material strong enough that it won't break under its own weight.  Composite ribbon of carbon nanotubes appears to be a possible solution.
118535
In theory it is absolutely possible. In reality, we haven't advanced science to the point where we can inhabit other planets. Currently there are plans to build an elevator that will allow people to enter space without spending months and months training their bodies to withstand the G's when exiting the atmosphere.\n\nThe current step to living on other planets is building a space station large enough to house multiple families, a small city or even refuel a ship. Currently right now travelling to Mars would take years and years. We would need a higher powered engine that uses less fuel and provides more thrust.
315403
You would generate a ship capable of providing a mini-ecosystem capable of sustaining a self-replicating crew.  Astronauts have kids who become astronauts down the ages until the destination is reached.  \n\nAs far as drive mechanism, currently NASA is working on finalizing an ION drive that gets stuff to its destination faster than our current thruster tech by propelling them at an increasing rate of acceleration.