Space Elevator – Help LiftPort build the Lunar Space Elevator Infrastructure discussion

Please introduce yourself in the “Welcome” thread!

When creating a new discussion, please ensure you put it in the correct folder. Folders are created based on the Challenges posted above, on the specific book selection, as “Book Suggestions” or “Schedule of Books”.

I want to stress the importance of the book club. Your ideas matter – to me and to our extended team. We might not always agree as to the best method of moving forward. At this stage in the project, dissention and discussion is vitally important. The proof of that can be found in the history of LiftPort – we’ve gotten some terrific ideas because our community of fans (you!) helped us. You have helped create a new Carbon NanoTube alloy, and redesign the LiftPort anchor station/ship that the Ribbon is attached to (and how the Ribbon is attached). You’ve provided revenues (in the form of products you wanted to buy) so that we could continue our mission. And you’ve helped us modify our robots. Your ideas matter. I’d like you to extend that same philosophy of open dialog, communication, and idea iteration, to these books we are communally reading.

Express your opinions, ideas. Express your concerns and questions. Assert yourself; but support your facts with references. Even when you disagree, respect others in the community. If you disagree, state – as objectively as possible – why you disagree AND give a counter argument. If you agree, chime in with additional supporting documentation! This book club is part of an active research, development and construction effort. Your participation means that this (first) Elevator on the Moon is more likely to happen, sooner.

If you like what we are doing, please tell others – about the club and our project. If you don’t like it, please tell us why.

I am happy to take “Book Suggestions” (post these in the thread) about what books to read. Collectively, you know more about ‘stuff’ than I possibly can. So, please, give me ideas about what I should be reading – stuff that is relevant to building the biggest project in human history. The final book choices will come down to what I think I need “now”. I’m the President of LiftPort Group, and I (usually) know what skills/insights I’m missing… So I want your suggestions, but I’ll be the one to choose the books. I’ll post the “Schedule of Books” about 2-4 weeks ahead, so that everyone (me included) has time to order them. I will start the club with four books I’ve already selected. By the time we are done with those, you folks will have provided additional options.

Thanks for your interest and participation.
Michael Laine www.twitter.com/mlaine
President, LiftPort Group www.liftport.com