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Orbital Elevator Tension Dynamics (2D)

Numerically integrated tether-tension profile for a space elevator: drag the counterweight altitude, its mass, a climbing payload and cable material, and watch where the cable is closest to snapping.

Space & Astronomy2DModerate60 FPS📱 Mobile-adapted⇄ 3D version

This 2D companion replaces the 3D scene's decorative dashboard with the real mechanic its title promises: a discretized numerical integration of tether tension from Earth's surface up to a movable counterweight, using the standard rotating-frame result that net force per unit length flips sign at the geostationary radius. A climbing payload adds a live point-load to the profile, and picking a cable material checks the peak stress against that material's tensile strength to compute a safety factor.

⚙ Under the hood

Tension T(r) is built by summing ω²r − GM/r² across 220 cable segments from Earth's surface to the counterweight, plus point loads from the counterweight and the climber; peak stress is compared against the chosen material's tensile strength.

Space Elevatortether tensiongeostationary orbitstructural engineering

2D · HTML5 Canvas 2D · 60 FPS target · runs fully client-side, no install