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Japanese researchers work to make sci-fi space elevator a reality
Yet another fictional invention from the late sci-fi author Arthur C. Clarke appears to be one step closer to reality. The Japan Space Elevator Association hopes to be instrumental in getting the first real working space elevator built, a device that Clarke imagined decades ago in his 1979 book "The Fountains of Paradise." The elevator, anchored by 22,000 mile long superstrong carbon nanotube cables, would link to a satellite in geostationary orbit, vastly reducing the cost of space travel and research by eliminating the need for costly rocket booster takeoffs.
In addition to transporting various payloads and spacecraft component parts for in-orbit assembly, the space elevator would also transport people, potentially kick starting a new wave of space tourism. Although several organizations around the world have also announced their intention to build such a mechanism, Japan's history of successful technical execution, plus a budget of around ten billion dollars makes the prospect of the space elevator suddenly seem like anything but fiction.
Via Times
By pixxan at 2:16 AM ON 09/24/08
How possible is the scenario for a space elevator catastrophe as described by Kim Stanley Robinson in his book "Red Mars"? (Namely, elevator falls and, because of Mars' rotation, wraps itself around the planet leaving devastation in its wake.)
By Bela Tanka at 3:52 AM ON 09/24/08
Slowly but surely!
By Anonymous at 5:32 AM ON 09/24/08
and then the aliens come and enslave us all
By jheylin at 2:03 PM ON 09/24/08
Only ten billion? Seems cheap to me.
By murc at 7:57 PM ON 09/24/08
PIXXAN - no, that's impossible, if the cable does break (bomb, asteroid, wear & tear) it will fall back down slowly...like a leaf. because its so lightweight and thin, its not a round cable, its a flat cable... like a ribbon.
I'm glad to see Japan really get behind this, I've known about these for a few years now, and they show Great promise.
By trindimen at 1:14 PM ON 09/25/08
Carbon nanotubes are stronger than diamonds...so the cable breaking would be unlikely .
By Anonymous at 1:21 PM ON 09/25/08
Can the Japenese really create this
By ward at 4:04 PM ON 09/25/08
Not yet. There are still some problems in manufacturing nanotubes on that scale. There is also an international group developing the technologies for the elevator. They have planed a finishing date for 2031. (www.liftport.com)
By Clay at 9:22 PM ON 09/28/08
I can imagine massive workstations used to build space craft mechanical arms and robots flyin round the ships... Awesome (>^_^)>
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