Yes, scientists are actually building an elevator to space - Fabio Pacucci
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TEDEd Animation
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Sending rockets into space requires sacrificing expensive equipment, burning massive amounts of fuel, and risking potential catastrophe. So in the space race of the 21st century, some engineers are abandoning rockets for something more exciting: elevators. What would it take to build such a structure? Fabio Pacucci explores the physics behind modern space elevators.
What are the main technological challenges that make the construction of a tower thousands of kilometers tall impossible? This kind of structure is called “under compression”: think of a skyscraper, for example. Also, watch this amazing TED-Ed: Will there ever be a mile-high skyscraper?
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Meet The Creators
- Educator Fabio Pacucci
- Director Tjoff Koong Studios
- Narrator Addison Anderson
- Animator Tezo Kyungdon Lee, Magnus Lenneskog
- Sound Designer Stephen LaRosa
- Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
- Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
- Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
- Editorial Producer Dan Kwartler
- Script Editor Alex Gendler
- Fact-Checker Jennifer Nam
