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ALAN K
Guest
space station? was in focus magazine
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anybody heard of a possible sky elevator made of nano tubes, being able to reach to
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themonkeyjuggles
Guest
Until the discovery of carbon nanotubes in 1991, space elevators were the stuff of science fiction. Now Michael Laine of the Liftport Group hopes to open its carbon nanotube ribbon to commercial space traffic in 2031.
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Kay T
Guest
The space elevator has been used in a number of science fiction books, but it may become a reality.
A space elevator is a proposed structure designed to transport material from a celestial body's surface into space. Many variants have been proposed, all of which involve traveling along a fixed structure instead of using rocket powered space launch. The concept most often refers to a structure that reaches from the surface of the Earth to geostationary orbit (GSO) and a counter-mass beyond.
The concept of a space elevator dates back to 1895 when Konstantin Tsiolkovsky proposed a free-standing "Tsiolkovsky" tower reaching from the surface of Earth to geostationary orbit. Most recent discussions focus on tensile structures (specifically, tethers) reaching from geostationary orbit to the ground. This structure would be held in tension between Earth and the counterweight in space like a guitar string held taut. Space elevators have also sometimes been referred to as beanstalks, space bridges, space lifts, space ladders, skyhooks, orbital towers, or orbital elevators.
Current (2009) technology is not capable of manufacturing practical engineering materials that are sufficiently strong and light to build an Earth based space elevator. This is because the total mass of conventional materials needed to construct such a structure would be far too great. However a recent breakthrough at Cambridge University may make such materials possible in the very near future. Recent conceptualizations for a space elevator are notable in their plans to use carbon nanotube-based materials as the tensile element in the tether design, since the measured strength of microscopic carbon nanotubes appears great enough to make this theoretically possible.
With a space elevator, materials might be sent into orbit at a fraction of the current cost. As of 2000, conventional rocket designs cost about eleven thousand U.S. dollars per kilogram for transfer to low earth or geostationary orbit. Current proposals envision payload prices starting as low as (US)$220 per kilogram.
West Australian co-author of the book "Leaving the Planet by Space Elevator", Philip Ragan, states that "The first country to deploy a space elevator will have a 95 per cent cost advantage and could potentially control all space activities."
David Smitherman of NASA/Marshall's Advanced Projects Office has compiled plans for such an elevator that could turn science fiction into reality. His publication, Space Elevators: An Advanced Earth-Space Infrastructure for the New Millennium, is based on findings from a space infrastructure conference held at the Marshall Space Flight Center last year. The workshop included scientists and engineers from government and industry representing various fields such as structures, space tethers, materials, and Earth/space environments.
Space Elevator Contest:
AGENCY: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
NOTICE: (09-012).
ACTION: Notice of Centennial Challenges 2009 Power Beaming and Tether Challenges.
SUMMARY: This notice is issued in accordance with 42 U.S.C. 2459f-1(d). The 2009 Power Beaming and Tether Challenges are now scheduled and teams that wish to compete may now register. The NASA Centennial Challenges Program is a program of prize contests to stimulate innovation and competition in space exploration and ongoing NASA mission areas. The 2009 Power Beaming Challenge is a prize contest designed to promote the development of new power distribution technologies. The 2009 Tether Challenge is a prize contest designed to develop very strong tether material for use in various structural applications. The Spaceward Foundation is administering both Challenges for NASA.
DATES: The 2009 Power Beaming and Tether Challenges will be held from April 29 through May 1, 2009.
ADDRESSES: The 2009 Power Beaming and Tether Challenges will be held at the Innovative Science and Technology Experimental Facility (ISTEF), Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899.
A space elevator is a proposed structure designed to transport material from a celestial body's surface into space. Many variants have been proposed, all of which involve traveling along a fixed structure instead of using rocket powered space launch. The concept most often refers to a structure that reaches from the surface of the Earth to geostationary orbit (GSO) and a counter-mass beyond.
The concept of a space elevator dates back to 1895 when Konstantin Tsiolkovsky proposed a free-standing "Tsiolkovsky" tower reaching from the surface of Earth to geostationary orbit. Most recent discussions focus on tensile structures (specifically, tethers) reaching from geostationary orbit to the ground. This structure would be held in tension between Earth and the counterweight in space like a guitar string held taut. Space elevators have also sometimes been referred to as beanstalks, space bridges, space lifts, space ladders, skyhooks, orbital towers, or orbital elevators.
Current (2009) technology is not capable of manufacturing practical engineering materials that are sufficiently strong and light to build an Earth based space elevator. This is because the total mass of conventional materials needed to construct such a structure would be far too great. However a recent breakthrough at Cambridge University may make such materials possible in the very near future. Recent conceptualizations for a space elevator are notable in their plans to use carbon nanotube-based materials as the tensile element in the tether design, since the measured strength of microscopic carbon nanotubes appears great enough to make this theoretically possible.
With a space elevator, materials might be sent into orbit at a fraction of the current cost. As of 2000, conventional rocket designs cost about eleven thousand U.S. dollars per kilogram for transfer to low earth or geostationary orbit. Current proposals envision payload prices starting as low as (US)$220 per kilogram.
West Australian co-author of the book "Leaving the Planet by Space Elevator", Philip Ragan, states that "The first country to deploy a space elevator will have a 95 per cent cost advantage and could potentially control all space activities."
David Smitherman of NASA/Marshall's Advanced Projects Office has compiled plans for such an elevator that could turn science fiction into reality. His publication, Space Elevators: An Advanced Earth-Space Infrastructure for the New Millennium, is based on findings from a space infrastructure conference held at the Marshall Space Flight Center last year. The workshop included scientists and engineers from government and industry representing various fields such as structures, space tethers, materials, and Earth/space environments.
Space Elevator Contest:
AGENCY: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
NOTICE: (09-012).
ACTION: Notice of Centennial Challenges 2009 Power Beaming and Tether Challenges.
SUMMARY: This notice is issued in accordance with 42 U.S.C. 2459f-1(d). The 2009 Power Beaming and Tether Challenges are now scheduled and teams that wish to compete may now register. The NASA Centennial Challenges Program is a program of prize contests to stimulate innovation and competition in space exploration and ongoing NASA mission areas. The 2009 Power Beaming Challenge is a prize contest designed to promote the development of new power distribution technologies. The 2009 Tether Challenge is a prize contest designed to develop very strong tether material for use in various structural applications. The Spaceward Foundation is administering both Challenges for NASA.
DATES: The 2009 Power Beaming and Tether Challenges will be held from April 29 through May 1, 2009.
ADDRESSES: The 2009 Power Beaming and Tether Challenges will be held at the Innovative Science and Technology Experimental Facility (ISTEF), Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899.
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Karl M
Guest
god told me not to mess with fusion, and fusion will kill us all, when we find out we don't exist. fusion is the speed you need to find that greed killed the human race ,, 40 years left tops , so enjoy,,
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icarus62
Guest
Yes the idea has been around for decades but there are significant problems (e.g. no known material is strong enough to make a cable that long that would support its own weight).