...And so, for example, if America were to succeed in building a –in its essence a 22,000-mile cable, operating like a pulley, dangling down from a stationary satellite, a concept first put forth in the late 19th century–that would be a major driver for economic growth. Japan has plans for just such a space elevator; aren’t we getting a little tired of losing high-tech economic competitions to the Japanese?...
Beam Us Up, Barack!
By James Pinkerton, New America Foundation
FoxNews.com | January 14, 2009
It is perhaps with a little smugness that I see the conservative Fox organization following my lead on the Space Elevator.
Apparently they are coming around to see that a Space Elevator is of vital importance, though perhaps for slightly less altruistic reasons.
In a perfect world, the Space Elevator would be an international effort. It'd be a step up if we could start reaching for the stars as a species, rather than a bunch of doomed, squabbling nation-states.
However, I'll take what I can get.
If the Space Elevator will come about through typical realpolitik, a military-industrial concern with nationalistic overtones, so be it - I'll take it.
And on that cynical note, get your piece of the action now, before the gold-rush starts. If you've got any spare change (I don't) buy as much property on the impoverished nation-state of Nauru as you can afford. It's one of the few locations where it makes sense to build a space elevator - and remember your old buddy who gave you the tip :-)
You heard it here first.