From: junkmail@wolfkeeper.plus.com   
   Copy: sci-space-tech@moderators.isc.org   
      
   Michael J Wise wrote:   
   > " If not solved, humans cannot travel on the SE (Space Elivator).   
   > Interesting.   
   > Maybe the "shielding" should be huge water tanks....   
   > I know, they have to be thick enough to stop the particles before   
   > they bounce around inside the crew compartment.   
      
   The problem is weight. The elevator will have a design limit on weight,   
   and every kilogram of shielding is a kilogram less of payload. The   
   overall shielding mass turns out to be many tonnes. This raises the   
   effective cost of the remaining (human) payload.   
      
   Still, if useful supplies were used as the radiation shielding, then no   
   loss of payload occurs. In practice, the supplies are likely to out mass   
   the humans anyway.   
      
   The supplies could probably be just about anything, food, rocket fuel,   
   metal and yes, even water if there is a need for it. But a large   
   mass/human ratio is required.   
      
   Alternatively, possibly the ultimate solution would be to remove or   
   attenuate the inner belt using the 'HiVolt' system, since that does not   
   impose any performance penalty on the elevator itself.   
      
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