A different kind of skyscraper.

[Enoki]

This is a new take on the idea... An insane one in my view, but definitely worthy of Traveller as an idea...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencet...-skyscraper-hangs-asteroid.html#ixzz4ceAQzuTd

 

[flykiller]

"The proposal calls for Analemma to be constructed over Dubai, which has proven to be a specialist in tall building construction at one fifth the cost of New York City construction. However, once near completion, the team will transport the tower to New York City where it will attach it to the orbiting asteroid."

easy peasy.

 

[Spinward Scout]

1) They haven't taken into account atmospheric leakage from stuff like this.

2) They need to come with a name that doesn't sound like a ⌧ star.

 

[aramis]

The drag coefficient is gonns be something stupidly high...

 

[Enoki]

The drag coefficient is gonns be something stupidly high...

Much like the architect who came up with this crackpot idea... :rofl:

 

[flykiller]

1) They haven't taken into account atmospheric leakage from stuff like this.

it's the dailymail.

2) They need to come with a name that doesn't sound like a ⌧ star.

are you kidding? that was the FIRST thing they came up with.

 

[Fovean]

Reverse space elevator. Genius!

 

[Beerfume]

Much like the architect who came up with this crackpot idea... :rofl:

As a REAL WORLD architect, I agree!

 

[kilemall]

As a TL8 heathen I think it's ridiculous.

But.

What if you have grav modules on it and you can stabilize it, just a variant on flying floating cities.

Could be an item that fits right at home TL13+, particularly with water worlds and other planets short on landmass.

 

[Condottiere]

The dinosaurs thought of it first

I wonder what happened to them?

 

[Grav_Moped]

Reverse space elevator. Genius!

Yep. Never going to make it to NYC (and if you can't make it there, you can't make it anywhere) simply because it'll have to be tethered to something in a geostationary orbit, which limits it to the equator.

 

[Fovean]

Gives me some ideas about gas giant mining stations... perhaps in a system where the mainworld is deep in its primary's jump shadow.

The anchoring asteroid could be hollowed out, containing sensors and defenses like a very light duty planetoid monitor.

Below that, docking stations and both refined and unrefined fuel storage. Below that, concourse, promenade, casino, what have you - imagine big wide viewports overlooking the vast clouds of a multicolored Jovian... Below that docking stations and cargo transfer. The remaining superstructure reaches into the upper atmo of the gas giant, terminating in scoops and pumps.

Could be cool for an Expanse-style location with lots of intra-system intrigue.

 

[flykiller]

Gives me some ideas about gas giant mining stations...

yeah, once calculated out how much space would be required for the hose sections needed to "drill down" like an oil platform into a hostile atmosphere, turned out it wasn't all that much, the grav platform was about 400 dtons and included the "well-head", hose lockers, living space, gas storage, dock, etc. had an adventure for it too, back when I was still spanning d&d/trav, won't run it now.

 

[Spinward Scout]

The drag coefficient is gonns be something stupidly high...

At about 1,000 miles per hour, they would have to make it shaped like an airplane wing. And sonic booms for everyone!

 

[Bravesteel]

If this was even possible, which we don't have the proper materials for, it's like going halfway. Why build a "flying skyscraper" when you could build a proper space elevator. I guarantee the ROI would be MUCH better on that.