Would it be possible to use the earth's rotation to launch spaceships to other planets?

A really simple question - if you built a space elevator then you continue building past the geostationary point to put tension onto the tether. Now if you keep building out further and further the end of the tether is moving faster and faster. In theory if you keep building out then eventually you are going faster than earth's escape velocity.

So my question is just how feasible would it be to build something like that and use it to launch ships on their way? By picking the right launch window you could send ships to anywhere in the solar system for virtually no fuel usage.

To be specific:

• How long would the tether need to be?

• What would the g forces be at the end of the tether?

• Not quite so important as the other two - but just what strength to weight ratio would the tether material need to have? Is it within the realms of material possibility or just ridiculous?

posted over 9 years ago

Tim B‭

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