Here is an interesting website:

http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/technology/technovel_tether_041109.html

Perhaps this first, then a lunar SE--lowered down perhaps?

That is good news. What was their reaction? Did they sound interested at all?

Some websites of interest...

http://www.spacedaily.com/news/life-04zzzzl.html
http://www.spacedaily.com/news/nanotech-04zzzt.html

http://www.spacedaily.com/news/energy-tech-04zzze.html
http://www.spacedaily.com/news/energy-tech-04zzzc.html

I wonder if a large rectenna might also incopporate its own solar collection surface for dual use--with it catching the power beam and sunlight as well...

In the back of Rudy Rucker's book INFINITY AND THE MIND are some quotes concerning some "floating factories" as postulated by Von Neumann.

It might be worth checking out.

I think they might compromise if an SE is offered as a selling point. Charging for rides in the elevator itself is a selling point--and nothing says that the cable could not be moved to another anchor.

How to sell the SE as a part of a larger package (power gen. platform, FREEDOM ship, etc.) Might be a key to success.

Neville Marzwell at JPL is looking into SPS, as well as Mr. Mankins at NASA Head.

An SE offer might be the only way it gets built at all.

I like to hear this kind of talk. Space elevators could interest eco-tourists and get SE's a new base of support. It pays to reach out to new friends with new ideas.

Space Solar power, unlike windfarms, have multiple uses. They can separate water into hydrogen and oxygen, be used for weather control--serve as the base for future solar electric spacecraft, heat asteroids, etc.

Wind-farms will not do any of that, except pull down a bit of heat to ground growing plants, as per the recent Space Daily article.

Beam the energy to the ground--or rather to the surface and break the water down there--so you will not have to move the product up and down the SE. This actually reduces power reuirements. Weather modification is also poosible with the beaming concept, as per the recentr SCI AM cover.

This is why I suggested linking the space elevator project with Norm Nixon's Freedom supership. At the ship-world forum one loudmouth looked at space elevators (and the excitement they could give large sea structures) as being irrelavent to his topic of large ships. (sounds familiar) We are going to have to lose the myopia if we want to interest more people in the projects of the future.

Thus my post:

Here is the link to the Norm Nixon supership project (Freedom):

www.freedomship.com

And a page rather critical of it, but with some positive feedback:
http://patrifriedman.com/projects/i...reedomship.html

I would suggest to you that a picture of SS1 or some other Rutan-like craft landing on that structure with a space elevator above it may excite interest in his otherwise waining dream. Nixon has a string of contacts--and could share them with you, since a space elevator could help him sell his product--and his dream may make yours possible. If such a craft also has huge turbines to generate electricity from below--you have an even broader base. Large naval structures are popular now.

Remember--have interests in more than just one area.

www.ship-world.com Take a look at the Freedom ship forums.

I seem to remember a large floating logistics base--a giant aircraft carrier of FREEDOM's size:

Give these guys a call--they may love to be remembered...
http://ctsm.umd.edu/pdf/technicalre...nstructionI.PDF
http://path.berkeley.edu/MOB/Docs/W...er/OPTIONS.html

Dead Links:
http://www.bwxt.com/Products/mob-bwx.html
http://www.bwxt.com/Products/mob-bwx.html#JMOB
www.mtiresearch.com/mob-comp.html

This link is not dead--and has telephone numbers
http://www.ship-world.com/utbb/Forum2/HTML/000062.html

Don't forget these guys

www.kvaerner.com

If cables are what you need--you may try to contact these guys who do business for Kvaerner: www.cordscable.com/customers.htm
If you can convince them nanocables will sell--they may use their pull to get the kvaerner folks to talk to you about a platform.

They are working on icebreakers as we speak. Just the thing to tow a SEA DRAGON super HLLV to launch point as well, I might add.

Here is my post at ship-world:

http://www.ship-world.com/utbb/Forum2/HTML/000082.html

Notice how one of the replies comes from an individual who uestions how space elevators are 'relevent' to large sea structures. Get overly focused--and you lose possible supporters.[/SIZETake a look at this man's model work for Hibernia:
http://www.starshipmodeler.net/cgi-...p=283099#283099

www.nostromobuilders.tk

It is just something that could use further study.

Bingo. They may actually serve some kind of purpose. There are a lot of things we don't understand about the global electrical circuit. With TIPPS, upward superbolts/blue jets, Kapitsa waves, etc. A lot of study needs to be done.

We are talking about a huge 22,000+ mile lightning rod running through the ionosphere directly to ground, after all.

Those are good links.

Here is a new group.
www.americaspace.org

Take a look at this man's model work for Hibernia:
http://www.starshipmodeler.net/cgi-bin/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=283099#283099

www.nostromobuilders.tk