10 Crazy Space Ideas Which Almost Came True

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Bonus function – if the wires stand close enough to each other so that the ring becomes dense enough, it could probably stop some of the Sun’s rays, which would then help with global warming.

Another idea from the times of the Cold War, but this time it’s about communication. In the 60’s most intercontinental communication was possible by very long underwater cables or via radio. These methods, however, were not very reliable, nor did they have much to offer in the way of quality, which is why the scientists at MIT were burdened with the development of something more modern. Their solution – a ring of about 480 million copper wires spread around Earth, which would serve as a huge antennae.

The first tests worked (there are still some wires flying around in space from that time, waiting there so they can transfer some mysterious alien message or just mess up our mobile network while we’re in Malibu), but further on the scientists understood that the ring, which even Saturn would envy, would function for no more than 3 years, so they gave up on the project which is why today we can sigh with relief. The question “Why don’t we shoot a bunch of trash in space, so we can make a planetary radio?” sounds way better when heard at night while still only around the fourth drink.

10 Crazy Space Ideas Which Almost Came True

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