Beanstalk
A Beanstalk is also known as a Space elevator, Orbital elevator, or Orbital beanstalk. It is a macro-engineering project involving an ultra-strong ribbon cable extending from the surface to geostationary orbit, with a second cable extending several thousand km beyond to form a counter-balance. The entire structure is under tension, balanced between the gravity from the lower end and centrifugal force at the upper end.
Description[edit]
Driving up and down the cable are elevator cars, carrying passengers and cargo. At the balance point an orbital station is constructed for space access to the passengers and cargo.
Not every world is capable of supporting a beanstalk. Worlds with more than 1G surface gravity are too massive for the cables to be supported correctly. Tide locked worlds, or worlds with too long or too short of a rotational period make construction of a beanstalk a larger engineering challenge.
Beanstalks are considered as the cheapest manner of access to space prior to the perfection of Gravity control technology.
History and background[edit]
The corporation Zaeto Kuengrorarr constructed an impressive beanstalk complex on Lair in the 1110s. It was intended as a showcase project for the current regime to replace an aging spaceport, a project that resulted in heavy tax burdens.
Worlds and sectors[edit]
These Megastructures are located throughout Charted Space.
World Listing: 1116[edit]
The following systems and worlds are associated with these Megastructures:
References and contributors[edit]
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- Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master of Sophontology Maksim-Smelchak of the Ministry of Science