Read the Beforeitsnews.com story here. Advertise at Before It's News here.
Profile image
Story Views
Now:
Last hour:
Last 24 hours:
Total:

Space elevator – a distant reality?

% of readers think this story is Fact. Add your two cents.


Space elevator, sometimes referred to as beanstalks, space bridges, space lifts, space ladders, skyhooks, orbital towers, or orbital elevators; is a proposed type of space transportation system designed to permit vehicle transport along the cable from a planetary surface, such as the Earth’s, directly into space or orbit, without the use of large rockets. If this idea is realized, advocates say it could reduce the cost of access to orbit from its current level of $10,000 or so a pound to $100 a pound, which would revolutionize space travel and open the solar system to human settlement.


Illustration of how Space elevator shall operate.

An Earth-based space elevator would consist of a cable with one end attached to the surface near the equator and the other end in space beyond geosynchronous orbit (35,800 km altitude). The competing forces of gravity, which is stronger at the lower end, and the outward/upward centrifugal force, which is stronger at the upper end, would result in the cable being held up, under tension, and stationary over a single position on Earth. Once deployed, the tether would be ascended repeatedly by mechanical means to orbit, and descended to return to the surface from orbit.

Space elevator illustrated. Source: Wikipedia

Concept of space elevator is not new, first suggested by Russian scientist Konstanin Tsiolkovsky in year 1895 to consider a tower that reached all the way into space, to an altitude of 35,790 kilometers (22,238 mi) above sea level . He was inspired by Eiffel Tower in Paris at that time. Though building a compression structure from the ground up proved an unrealistic task as there was no material in existence with enough compressive strength to support its own weight under such conditions. Later in 1959, Yuri Artsutanov, another Russian scientist suggested using a geostationary satellite as the base from which to deploy the structure downward. His theory was to use a counterweight and lower a cable from geostationary orbit to the surface of Earth, while the counterweight was extended from the satellite away from Earth, keeping the cable constantly over the same spot on the surface of the Earth.

In 1966 four American engineers, Isaacs, Vine, Bradner and Bachus, reinvented the concept and named it a “Sky-Hook,” published their analysis in the journal Science. They decided to determine what type of material would be required to build a space elevator, assuming it would be a straight cable with no variations in its cross-section, and found that the strength required would be twice that of any then-existing material including graphite, quartz, and diamond. Since then most ideas for space elevators are focused on tensile structures, with the weight of the system held up from above. Space elevators were also described in science fiction during 70s and later.

Major challenge is the ability of the cable to hold up, with tension, the weight of itself below any particular point. The vertical point with the greatest tension on a space elevator cable is at the level of geostationary orbit, 35,786 km (22,236 mi) above the Earth’s equator. This means that the cable material combined with its design must be strong enough to hold up the weight of its own mass from the surface up to 35,786 km. It remained an idea of science fiction as there was no material strong enough to suit for such cable.

Carbon nanotubes are one of the candidates for a cable material. Source: Wikipedia

It changed with development of Carbon nanotubes in 1990s, as engineer David Smitherman of NASA/Marshall’s Advanced Projects Office realized that the high strength of these materials might make the concept of an orbital skyhook feasible. Yet, there are lots of technical obstacles will have to be overcome in order to produce long, wide ribbons of carbon nanotubes that are strong enough and resilient enough to do the job. Synthetic polymer called Zylon ranks among the strongest available, and space-elevator advocates measure its strength per unit of density at 3.9 megayuris. (The “yuri” is an unofficial measurement unit that was named after Russian space-elevator pioneer Yuri Artsutanov.) The specific strength of steel is about 0.5 megayuris. But the stuff of space elevators would have to be on the order of 30 to 100 megayuris strong.

Annual International Space Elevator Conference is organized every year, being held from 25th to 27th August this year at Seattle’s Museum of Flight. Also, there has been competitions organized by Spaceward foundation to speed up space elevator development, being held for climbers, ribbons and power-beaming systems, the Robogames Space Elevator Ribbon Climbing competition. In 2004, A privately held corporation, LiftPort group was found with objective of constructing space elevators using carbon nanotubes. In 2011, Google was revealed to be working on plans for a space elevator at its secretive Google X Lab location. Recently in 2012, the Obayashi Corporation announced that in 38 years it could build a space elevator using carbon nanotube technology.

Michio Kaku on space elevator
Sir Arthur C. Clarke once said, “The space elevator will be built about 10 years after everyone stops laughing”. Philip Ragan, co-author of the book “Leaving the Planet by Space Elevator”, states that “The first country to deploy a space elevator will have a 95 percent cost advantage and could potentially control all space activities.” Skeptics have raised question as to how realistic these visions could be, but it is definitely a dream that could very well prove ingenuity of mankind and an opportunity to explore outer-space economically. Once realized, this will pave the way for space tourism. Question is, will we see such it happen anytime soon?

Sources – Space elevator at Wikipedia, Space elevator ideas rising again, International space elevator conference
Featured image from – star-tech-inc.com

Related posts:

  1. Asteroid’s Record-Breaking Brush with Earth Changed It Forever A tiny asteroid that zipped by Earth this month made…
  2. Three Theories of Planet Formation Busted! The more new planets we find, the less we seem…

Space elevator – a distant reality?



Source:


Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world.

Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.

"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.

Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world. Anyone can join. Anyone can contribute. Anyone can become informed about their world. "United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.


LION'S MANE PRODUCT


Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules


Mushrooms are having a moment. One fabulous fungus in particular, lion’s mane, may help improve memory, depression and anxiety symptoms. They are also an excellent source of nutrients that show promise as a therapy for dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases. If you’re living with anxiety or depression, you may be curious about all the therapy options out there — including the natural ones.Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend has been formulated to utilize the potency of Lion’s mane but also include the benefits of four other Highly Beneficial Mushrooms. Synergistically, they work together to Build your health through improving cognitive function and immunity regardless of your age. Our Nootropic not only improves your Cognitive Function and Activates your Immune System, but it benefits growth of Essential Gut Flora, further enhancing your Vitality.



Our Formula includes: Lion’s Mane Mushrooms which Increase Brain Power through nerve growth, lessen anxiety, reduce depression, and improve concentration. Its an excellent adaptogen, promotes sleep and improves immunity. Shiitake Mushrooms which Fight cancer cells and infectious disease, boost the immune system, promotes brain function, and serves as a source of B vitamins. Maitake Mushrooms which regulate blood sugar levels of diabetics, reduce hypertension and boosts the immune system. Reishi Mushrooms which Fight inflammation, liver disease, fatigue, tumor growth and cancer. They Improve skin disorders and soothes digestive problems, stomach ulcers and leaky gut syndrome. Chaga Mushrooms which have anti-aging effects, boost immune function, improve stamina and athletic performance, even act as a natural aphrodisiac, fighting diabetes and improving liver function. Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules Today. Be 100% Satisfied or Receive a Full Money Back Guarantee. Order Yours Today by Following This Link.


Report abuse

    Comments

    Your Comments
    Question   Razz  Sad   Evil  Exclaim  Smile  Redface  Biggrin  Surprised  Eek   Confused   Cool  LOL   Mad   Twisted  Rolleyes   Wink  Idea  Arrow  Neutral  Cry   Mr. Green

    MOST RECENT
    Load more ...

    SignUp

    Login

    Newsletter

    Email this story
    Email this story

    If you really want to ban this commenter, please write down the reason:

    If you really want to disable all recommended stories, click on OK button. After that, you will be redirect to your options page.