Is there a way to make an actual elevator that goes from Earth up to the ISS [International Space Station]?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_elevator

it would be difficult because of the whole orbiting thing

The concept is fairly old but in recent years I’ve read that carbon nanotubes has advanced the possibility by providing a feasible material from which to contruct the ‘shaft’ hee.

Carbon nanotubes are formed by crafting a unique structure from carbon atoms that gives the material novel properties, most notably incredible strength and cohesion.

Flavio has a good point too – common concepts of space elevators are based on objects in a geosynchronous orbit (where objects maintain a fixed position and distance relative to the Earth as it orbits). The ISS currently is in a low earth orbit and thus the ISS (or Earth) wouldn’t be able to ‘catchup’ and the shaft hee would break.

Alternative elevator designs can overcome this problem (for example using magnetic propulsion to shuttle the car instead of following a physical rail) but are even less practical then the standard model at this point. If such an elevator becomes a practical possibility the ISS could also concievably be modified to operate in a geosynchronous orbit as well…

Check these sites to learn more about the space elevator competition
http://www.spaceward.org/elevator2010
and the Liftport Group http://www.liftport.com/”:http://www.liftport.com/

Here is how I envision a space elevator.

You have a base on the ground (or, more feasibly, the ocean). From that base, you have rails extending up into space. The rails would connect onto an orbiting station/satellite in space, that matches the orbit and trajectory of Earth.

Then, there would be a shuttle affixed to the railways. From the base, an explosion would propel it up, and then it would drop back down to transport people downwards.

Theoretically it is possible, but the funds and expenses are so great and it is not generally deemed as profitable enough to warrant enough support for a project like that.

I’d say there’s continued interest in alternative payload delivery systems into space because the current method is very expensive and inefficient. Considering the bulky propulsion systems and the high risk of the standard way of delivering objects into space a ‘space elevator’ could conceivably be worth the cost. We would have a more reliable way of delivering objects into space that wouldn’t require the fuel and propulsion that’s needed currently for payloads to reach escape velocity.

It can’t be done.

It is perfectly doable, but the technology is not perfected yet. You can google it, but in theory, you need very little propulsion because of the action of gravity, as well as kinetic energy. The idea is to have the carbon fiber nano tubes anchored to earth and an object in stabil orbit. Then you basically start the cargo on it’s way along the track and let the earth spin it along the track into space using the rotational force of the earth for propulsion. You only need enough energy to overcome the initial pull of gravity, and the spinning does the rest. I hope that we will see it in our lifetimes.

I saw the carbon fiber theory on TV. The reason I said it can’t be done is because before the knowledge curve reaches the point where man is capable man will have done something to set us back (like the extinction of our species, destruction of the planet, the apocalypse, stuff like that).

Nah, I go for the cups half full.

Skyhooks.

One classic problem of space elevator is the weight of such a long cable. This is one place where nanotubes are great – very very thin/light for their strength. Also, they can be built to conduct electricity so the elevator could be run that way (maybe solar panels on the satellite make it eco as well!!). Also, while the ISS is in conventional orbit, a geosynchronous satellite could be a great launch point to it, without the expense and risk of normal launch. You could run a shuttle to/from.

Well said kfingerman.

@kfingerman You can tie the other end to an asteroid or something; oughta relieve some of the weight.

@artificialard You could make the argument that the Tower of Babel was the first attempt.

Read Arthur C. Clarkes “The Fountains of Paradise”. Cool sci book, explores this concept.

A point on the surface of the Earth moves a little over 1,000 mph. The ISS moves pretty close to 17,000 mph. You have to figure out a way to match those speeds. Just a simple elevator won’t do it.

The ISS is at an altitude of about 250 miles. It would have to reside in a geostationary orbit of about 25,000 miles for there to be an elevator that would work.