Okay everyone, I've re-written the essays about the Space Elevator. It is now entitled "Skyhook Launch System". I've combined the two essays into a single essay using more coherent, more understandable language.

Starship Generations

I've replaced the nuclear powerplant with a Beamed Power system. This system relies on several ground-based 4.5 gigawatt powerplants distributed around the world, each converting electricity to radio frequency (RF) energy and beaming it to a receiving antenna attached to the orbiting Hub. The RF energy is then converted back into electricity with an efficiency of 61 percent (according to Mark Prado, author of www.permanent.com). The electrical power would then power a large fan of conductive wires that repel the earth's magnetic field and boost the orbital speed of the Skyhook. The Skyhook thereby maintains orbit without using any rocket propellant whatsoever.

By getting rid of the nuclear powerplant alot of compexity is also eliminated, such as the need for radiators, cooling fluids, turbomachinery, and other assemblies of moving parts. There would also be no radioactive material that would require refueling missions, and that would cause worldwide protest and endanger international cooperation on the project. Most importantly it would probably be far less expensive to build a dozen Beam Power facilities on Earth's surface than to launch a single large nuclear power plant to a 4000-km orbit.

Comments?