Space Elevators Could Totally Work—If Earth Days Were Much Shorter

Space elevators have long been a dream of science fiction enthusiasts and space exploration advocates. The concept involves a tower reaching from the surface of the Earth into geostationary orbit, allowing for cheap and efficient transportation of goods and people into space.

However, the main obstacle to building a space elevator is the length of a day on Earth. A traditional space elevator would need to be incredibly tall in order to reach geostationary orbit, which is approximately 36,000 kilometers above the Earth’s surface.

If Earth days were much shorter, say only a few hours long, the height required for a space elevator would be significantly reduced. This would make the construction and operation of a space elevator much more feasible.

With a shorter day length, the tower would not need to be as tall, reducing the strain on materials and making it easier to build. Additionally, the shorter day would mean that the orbiting counterweight required for the elevator to function properly would need to be smaller and lighter.

Of course, changing the length of a day on Earth is no easy feat. It would require a significant reworking of the Earth’s rotation and orbit, which is currently beyond our technological capabilities.

Despite the challenges, the idea of a space elevator remains an enticing prospect for future space travel. If the day ever comes when we can engineer the Earth’s rotation to our advantage, space elevators could revolutionize the way we access and explore space.

In the meantime, scientists and engineers will continue to work on developing alternative methods for space transportation, such as reusable rockets and spaceplanes. But the dream of a space elevator will always be there, waiting for the day when Earth’s days are a little bit shorter.