Humanity’s dream is to find a path connecting the earth to the moon. This is due to the fact that the moon has various important usages. It is a fixed station where we can set off into the open space. The moon is an important source of some rare earth materials such as helium. This one will be the primary source of clean energy. Therefore, the flourishment of humanity depends largely on reaching the moon; connecting the Earth to the moon or other planets through constructing roads is the ultimate end for future research.
The Carman Line: connecting the Earth to the Moon
Scientists invented advanced rockets that carry satellites into space. This will cover the oxygen lack in heights of more than 15 km. Scientists accompanied these new jets with oxygen supply. With these huge supplies, this type of jet needs speed; it also requires a great quantity of energy to get rid of the gravity force. This will prevent it from returning to Earth. The rockets have to engender enormous force that is roughly equivalent to the push of nearly 10,000 cars.
The accomplishment of this experiment necessitates material potentials and demanding efforts. To keep distant from this hardship, scientists think of connecting the Earth to the Moon. The elevator can carry people along with Earth’s atmosphere equipment more easily. This concept has become applicable not only in theory but also in practice, as today’s technology has developed tremendously.
The space elevator: earth to the moon
This elevator was an outcome of imaginary reflection by the Russian scientist Constantine Tsiolkovsky in 1895. During his visit to Eiffel Tower, this scientist was thinking about an elevator with a size of 18,500 km. This can help to reach the simultaneous Earth orbit. In this orbit, the rotation of anything seems to be in the same direction similar to that of Earth; any rotation in this orbit becomes motionless and stationary with respect to the Earth.
In his novel, The Fountains of Paradise, Arthur Clarke also suggested building a tower. In this latter, astronomers would reach the simultaneous Earth orbit. However, scientists did not take these ideas at face value. This is because they would collapse due to gravity. Instead, they proposed a thin cable composed of very strong and non-heavy materials. In this case, the attachment of things to this cable will be easy. It will cause them to move by means of the so-called “visible gravitational field”.
Spaceline to the moon
Astrophysicists say that instead of building a space elevator or a tower, as is aforementioned, it is vital to create a spaceline between the moon and the Earth.
The construction of this space line is technical and economical because of the advanced technological tools and materials. Because of this, today this space line takes the name of “space elevator”.
In fact, scientists discovered that “xylene” is a carbon polymer. This latter allows them to build a cable between the orbit and the moon. Thus, the cable becomes away from Earth, and roughly about 362,000 km from the moon; therefore, in so doing, we are going to avoid contact as well as collision with satellites. The researchers estimated that the cable may cost billions of dollars if it is thick as a pencil.
The advantages of having enormous distances over the space elevator lie in the fact that it revolves around the Earth once a month only. This is due to the link between the space elevator and the moon, and not Earth. This means the reduction of the pressure caused by centrifugal forces.
The gravity
Fastening the cable to the ground towards the moon is not a good idea. This is due to the force of the gravitational Earth and its rotational speed. According to scientists, only connecting the cable to the side of the moon will reduce the risk of the cable being broken.
In so doing, the journey to the moon will start from the correct height towards the end of the space cable; the use of solar impulse helps to travel along the cable to “Lagrange Points”. This is because no gravity hinders the vehicle from landing on the moon.
The only remaining obstacle has to do with the availability of materials necessary for making the cable. According to some experts, the use of carbon nanotubes is the best material for this purpose; however, today’s technology does not permit companies to build a cable of this length. It all depends on the ability to find a strong material with which we can make a cable of this size.
Lagrange point
As for the cable shape, the researchers have managed to manufacture a cable too narrow at both ends. This way, the rope will not fall down under gravity pressure; the cable should be very thick in the middle to protect it from the attraction.
If this suggestion works well, this type of cable will be used in research centers and other facilities. Other researchers think that it will be used in orbital telescopes. In fact, “Lagrange Point” is the height where the force of gravity is equal amongst the moon and the Earth. As a consequence, the scientists estimated that the fuel needed to arrive at the moon will diminish by a third.
“The line will become part of the infrastructure just like the old railways,” says Penoyer. “People’s mobility along this line will become much easier than today’s journeys.”
After building this cable, the Lagrange point will be the optimal zone where the cable is to be built. Across this line, people will be able to send equipment as well as materials. It will be a station where people can travel between planets and stars.
