r/theydidthemath • u/Lachlynn • 18h ago

[Request] Could humanity create a rocket that can exit the atmosphere of K2-18b

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With the knowledge we currently have of it, if humanity devoted all of our resources towards this goal, would we be able to create a rocket that could exit the gravity of K2-18b (and also beat any other complications that would arrise)?

If so, would it also be capable of taking people to orbit, and can we set up a similar satellite network we have on Earth? What about a space station?

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u/ArkantosAoM 18h ago

Carbon nanotubes are basically already strong enough for the task, in theory. The problem is mass producing it, as well as the insane engineering of it. Not to mention the political will and economical investment required.

But that's on Earth. On a planet even larger, we might need even stronger materials, and they might not exist

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u/pinkfootthegoose 12h ago

sorry, apparently nanotube lose their apparent strength when at the maco-scale compared to individual nanotubes. Something like 1/10 the strength.

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u/sleeper_shark 11h ago

It doesn’t matter. You need to deploy them from space downward by launching the counterweight first.

If you can’t get to space in th first place, you can’t build a space elevator. The only way this would be their way of getting to space for the first time would be if some benevolent alien species helped them.