File talk:Space elevator structural diagram.svg

Center of mass of elevator is NOT at altitude of geosynchronous orbit

This image shows clearly that the center of mass of the elevator will be at the altitude of geosynchronous orbit. This is false: the center of mass needs to be higher, so that there is centripetal force pulling on the elevator at the bottom of the cable. Otherwise the bottom of the cable will have no tension, and will not be able to handle the necessary angular momentum transfer. -- Dan Griscom (talk) 21:26, 23 June 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Surely the entire length of the elevator is in geosynchronous orbit. - LeonWhite (talk) 07:40, 20 September 2009 (UTC)[reply]