Terrestrial Space Elevators, A Neccessary Evil?
The trouble with our times is that the future is not what it used to be.
With humanity on the verge of leaving their terrestrial cradle, one can only imagine how far they will go in order to explore, build and conquer other worlds. But whether we choose to enter space via chemical and nuclear rockets, or magnetic sleds, we may have to construct a space elevator, even if the previous methods become cheaper in the future.
Whether or not one acknowledges global warming, most people can agree that air pollution is a major concern for our environment. Although much of it comes from common vehicles such as automobiles, a large portion comes from power plants, especially coal.
Many communities have responded to this by building “clean, safe,” nuclear power plants. Although they do not pollute our atmosphere they can leave a nasty side effect called nuclear waste which can take thousands of years to decay or worse be spun into weapons.
Removing them off our planet would not only ensure that future descendants do not spin them into weapons, but that our environment would not suffer from a dump site leak.
Since most nations would be uncomfortable having a rocket or magnetic sled hurling nuclear materials half way around the planet (especially in their neighborhood), a space elevator could easily solve this problem by moving nuclear waste “slowly” off our planet from a location away from major populations.
The waste could then be disposed of by a robotic shuttle in space and then dumped on Venus (or perhaps even hurled towards the sun).
Although most of humanity is probably fit for space travel, there remains a vast minority who are either unfit physically (as in the case of Stephen Hawking) to travel to the stars. Despite lacking the physical strength to endure the trip, these people may have a lot to offer humanity as far as intellect and our understanding of the universe goes.
Leaving these people behind to observe the universe through others would be nothing more than to deny them the opportunity to explore the universe for themselves. A space elevator would allow those who are disabled or not healthy enough to travel via rocket (or magnetic sled) to join the rest of humanity in our quest to colonize the stars.
But before we can even adequately transport large numbers of people into space, (as well as dangerous materials on Earth) humanity will need to figure out a way to remove nearly 4,800 satellites no longer in use, circling our globe. Although many of these satellites are unusable, they may hold some historical value such as humanities first satellite into space, Sputnik 1.
Unfortunately despite their value, many of these objects can not be brought back towards earth because of the dangers that they would pose to both the shuttle and the crew. A space elevator could enable humanity to get a glimpse of their past by enabling the safe transport of distant satellites from space to Earth (possibly through solar dump trucks).
Not only would scientists and historians enjoy the return of some of the satellites to planet Earth, but also engineers as well (as they could finally figure out what went wrong in the past). A space elevator may even allow us to recycle these satellites and refurbish them for other missions.
Whether we get to space en mass through rockets or magnetic sleds only the future can tell. But regardless on the vehicle chosen to get to the stars and beyond, we may have to construct a ladder to the future to not only resolve problems around and on Earth, but to insure that all may have the opportunity to fully enjoy the cosmos.
(Hat Tip: Space Elevator Journal)
Update: Corrected some grammatical errors.
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LockHeed Martin Building A Space Elevator?
(Hat Tip: Robot Guy and Space Elevator Reference)
With LockHeed Martin drafting plans to construct its own space elevator, it looks like LiftPort may have some serious competition on its hands.
(Google Patents) A Space Elevator for transporting a payload from one point to another in outer space, includes a first structure, located at a first relatively fixed, non-zero orbital distance from the surface of the earth, for receiving payloads, a second structure, located at a second relatively fixed orbital distance from the surface of the earth, for receiving payloads, where the second distance is greater than the first distance, a third structure located near the center of gravity of the combined apparatus providing a platform for storing and/or processing payloads, and a payload transporting apparatus disposed between and interconnecting the first and third and second and third structural means.
Although this differs from LiftPort’s version of a space elevator, (which should probably be called a Sky Hook) LockHeed’s version would preserve the current rocket industry in its current status.
LiftPort’s version, although probably not in the best short term interests of any rocket company, would enable larger cargo to be hauled into space, not to mention giving most countries access to the final frontier.
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NASA Regains Its Manhood (Destination: Moon)
(Hat Tip: Space Scan)
After decades of spending billions on projects helping us orbit our own planet, NASA has decided to change course and retake lost ground on our lunar neighbor.
(MSNBC) NASA announced Monday its strategy and rationale for robotic and human exploration of the moon, determining that a lunar outpost is the best approach to achieve a sustained, human presence there. [...]
“What we’re looking at are polar locations…both the north pole and south pole,” said NASA Deputy Administrator Shana Dale. Picking between the two poles will be done once NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter begins surveying the moon after its launch in October 2008.
One particular area that’s already receiving high marks by NASA’s lunar architecture team is at the South Pole-a spot on the rim of Shackleton Crater that’s almost permanently sunlit.
This announcement is long overdue, and despite the complaints of costs by some, NASA should be able to fund this project as well as the various science programs. Although cutting back on these programs is not fun (as that means somebody is out of a job), it would probably be better for this to happen in the short term than having us forever observing the stars.
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Artificial Gravity And Orbital Space Stations?
One of the biggest challenges towards colonizing the solar system (and beyond) is gravity–or rather the lack thereof. Gravity plays an important role in the health of the human body, and the lack of it for long periods of time can be dangerous for future space colonists.
Although it is currently unknown at what percentage of Earth gravity is necessary for human survival, we may have to build enormous space stations that can simulate gravity via centripetal force.
(AstroProf’s Page) In science fiction, this is an easy problem to solve – you use artificial gravity generators. Actually, I rather think that this is an invention of producers who wanted to keep special effects budgets down rather than any attempt to overcome physiological problems! [...]
For large space colonies, with a very big radius, the colony could be rotated at a comfortably gently rate, people living in the ring at the outer edge of the colony would feel just like they were on Earth (if f = 1). So, this is how we’d more likely generate artificial gravity, rather than with the graviton generators used in science fiction.
Since most of the solar worlds lack the necessary gravity to enable human colonies upon their soils, we may be stuck living in orbital stations except for brief visits to the surface.
Although this may produce an acute form of cabin fever (if the stations are small that is) it is better to ere on the side of caution in this regard than to suffer the side effects of micro-gravity.
Update: Adjusted image for size and credit. Also added extra category for post.
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Russia Considers Lunar, Martian Space Elevators
(Hat Tip: Space Elevator Blog, One and Two)
Not desiring to deal with the hassles of launching and landing a payload from Earth to the Moon and Mars, Russia is considering building a space elevator in order to help cut down on transport expenses.
(RIA Novosti) Scientists from the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences have developed a unique space elevator for lunar and Martian missions. Although a bit slower, the new system will cut back on interplanetary delivery expenses. [...]In 1965, the Central Machine-Building Design Bureau, headed by leading rocket scientist Sergei Korolev, a member of the Soviet Academy of Sciences, started preparing for the first space-tether experiment. The Bureau, which later changed its name to Energia Rocket and Space Corporation, planned to link a Soyuz spacecraft to the last stage of the launch vehicle using a steel cable. Unfortunately, this project was mothballed after Korolev’s death and resumed by Energia only 20 years later.
The fact that they started this project is a testimony to the Russian spirit to push the boundries of space technology as we know it. Although there is no mention of a space elevator on Energia’s website, it is good to see another company (aside from LiftPort) taking the concept seriously, if not on Earth then elsewhere.
The Russian Space Research Institute, another organization considering the possibilities of a space elevator, has already outlined a fancy way of building one on the Moon.
(RIA Novosti) Theoretical studies and experiments showed that the cluster should comprise two cableway systems, one in a low circular and the other in a low elliptical Earth orbit, and one cableway in a circular equatorial lunar orbit. The dimensions of all three cableways should create different gravitational potentials at each end. By adjusting tether length, it will be possible to change each orbital system’s angular speed of rotation.
The space-elevator cluster will exchange payloads between orbital cableways. In essence, two-way freight traffic would turn such cableways into a transportation artery.
A lunar space elevator would definitely go a long ways towards colonizing the lunar surface. There are some who even think one may be built before one is constructed on Earth.
But unlike the moon, a lunar space elevator would have to be constructed out of cheap materials due to the fact that space rocks raining down from above can easily damage the lunar lift, temporarily crippling transport to the moon.
A Martian space elevator may not fare any better, as the red planet is known to harbor violent storms that cover the entire surface.
Russia may be able to overcome both of these problems (at least in the lunar scenario) as one should not wager against technological breakthroughs in the space arena. But even if space elevators are only feasible on planet Earth, just being able to construct one within the solar system is enough to change the history of our planet as we know it.
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Should We Build Lunar Telescopes?
With NASA committing to return back to the moon, some scientists and engineers are considering building telescopes on the lunar surface for a clearer view of the universe.
(MSNBC) This week at a workshop entitled “Astrophysics Enabled by the Return to the Moon” at the Space Telescope Science Institute here, astrophysicists are discussing such moon plans, including the idea of setting up telescopes on the lunar surface.
“The main purpose is to really for the first time in many years have a very diverse group of astrophysicists come together and talk about whether it makes sense to do astrophysics from the moon now that we’ve got NASA committed to sending people there and putting up infrastructure there,” said Laurie Leshin, Director of Sciences and Exploration at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.
A lunar telescope would have several advantages over its Earthen brethren, mainly being able to view the cosmos without the filter of an atmosphere. Larger telescopes could also be built due the moon’s gravity being one-sixth’s of Earth.
Unfortunately the lack of an atmosphere can be dangerous, as virtually anything falling from space can easily destroy these telescopes without proper shielding. Dust will also be a major problem if humans are operating the telescope, although NASA (or a private space company) is probably working on resolving both of these issues.
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Short Space Elevator Film
Here is a short film show casing the space elevator via YouTube.
Unlike many films online this video highlights the friction between the tether and the lifter as it climbs its way towards the stars. I wonder if a climber speeding that fast (and causing that much friction) would wear out the tether in a year or two?
One interesting aspect of this short film was the asteroid as a counter weight. Although held up to some as a good idea, no earthly government would be comfortable with a rock that large near earth. Such an idea by itself would be enough to kill off the space elevator idea.
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Happy Space Elevator Day!
Today is happy Space Elevator day. Why is that? That is because LiftPort, a space elevator company plans on launching the first “lifter shuttle” in orbit on October of this day in 2031.
LiftPort is one of the few (and possibly only) company out there striving to make space available to all (and not just the wealthy and healthy) and if you would like to help make this dream a reality, you can support them by either purchasing their book, enlisting as a LiftPort Ambassador or simply Google-bombing the word “space elevator” with LiftPort’s homepage as you can see from the example below:
Although only one score and four years away, wouldn’t it be nice to ride in a space elevator? (if not you, at least your kids could go up).
Note: Did we mention listening to music on the way up? (Hat Tip: Space Elevator Blog)
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Travel To Mars Via Asteroid?
Since traveling to Mars can be dangerous to your health (thanks to cosmic radiation) some researchers are proposing that future astronauts travel to the red planet via asteroids that orbit between Earth and Mars.
(New Scientist Space) In one version of the idea, the astronauts would actually dig a hole in the asteroid, put the spacecraft inside and cover it over with material from the asteroid. Within this protective burrow, the spacecraft would be shielded from cosmic rays during the six- to 10- month journey to Mars.In a second version, the spacecraft would not contact the space rock. Instead, it would hover nearby, and astronauts or robots would visit it on spacewalks. “You’d have the astronaut actually go to the asteroid and begin to extract material,” Della-Giustina told New Scientist.
Hitch hiking via asteroids is pretty ingenious, although it may not work in the long term. If a martian colony is established and an emergency arises, we can not simply depend upon asteroids to bring us to safety across space.
What NASA needs to seriously consider is either investing in creating a radiation shield for the astronauts, or finding out faster ways to travel between worlds (via nuclear or momentum from a space elevator). Although radiation shielding is expensive, it would enable us to travel without fear of having our minds reduced to nothing upon arrival on Mars.
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Space Elevator Games (Enlightening) Revelations
Ted Semon on the Space Elevator Blog and Dr. Edwards over on the Space Elevator Reference have done such a great round up about the X-Prize Cup that there is little need for any extra analysis.
However, after viewing video and reading opinions of bloggers at the event one thing became clear–space may be for the upcoming generation.
Although NASA will undoubtedly build bigger and better (yet more expensive) rockets, the final frontier will still be limited towards the healthy and wealthy, or federal space employees.
It may be a good thirty to forty years until humans begin to travel up a space elevator (an optimistic view, at least from one LiftPort staff member) but perhaps space is not for our generation.
Our fathers may have not prepared us for the final frontier (as their fathers did not do as great a job in this regard) but perhaps the current generation can prepare the future one for the opportunity.
After all, the human race still has plenty of problems to work out on planet Earth (like loving thy neighbor) and perhaps this will give our species time to find a solution for some of these problems before we head off towards the stars.
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Is Asteroid Farming On Ceres Neccessary?
One can not discuss colonizing the solar system without mentioning asteroid mining. Harvesting the asteroid belt for minerals and metals will be critical towards the future space economy as some worlds (such as Mars and Jupiter’s Galilean moons) lack the resources necessary to attract businesses and ultimately future colonists.
But in order to establish mining operations millions of miles away from habitable worlds, we need to find a way to feed those who will be doing the “dirty work” of mining these rocks that dance around our sun.
Although shipping food from Earth and Mars may be tolerable, it may impractical (not to mention expensive). Instead of shipping food, water and other items towards the asteroid belt, why not establish farming communities on Ceres instead?
Despite lacking known metallic resources that would make it attractive towards future space corporations, Ceres does have one element that would make this asteroid worth its weight in gold–water. Scientists believe that Ceres could contain up to 200 million cubic kilometers of fresh water–about five times as much as planet Earth.
By having access to a vast amount of liquid wealth, Ceres could easily grow the necessary food for future mining colonies, saving them both time and money as opposed to receiving rations from Earth.
Supplying future asteroid colonies with the necessary food will be difficult, if not nearly impossible as there are thousands (if not millions) of asteroids, each with its own chaotic orbit around the Sun. Without an orbital “ran de vue” point, permanent mining colonies may become “over looked,” resulting in outposts being abandoned simply because a space settlement ran out of food.
With the heart of the asteroid belt located around 2.7 AU (astronomical unit), Ceres lies in perfect position to supply future colonists with the necessary food supplies, as its orbit ranges between 2.55 and 2.98 AU. As the asteroid king makes its journey around the sun, mining colonies could be easily resupplied with food grown on the rocky world, enabling permanent outposts to focus on extracting minerals and precious metals.
Containing roughly 25% of the asteroid belts mass, Ceres may have the necessary gravity to allow for more plant life than would be possible in a micro gravity environment.
Although hovering around 3% (when compared to Earths), the gravity on Ceres may be tolerable to plant life, although humans may have to adjust to the low gravity by either finding chemicals to counter act atrophy or simply constructing artificial gravity space stations nearby.
Despite being recognized as a dwarf planet, Ceres will play a major role in mining operations within the asteroid belt, if not the solar system as a whole.
By simply acting as an agricultural world (or rather dwarf planet) it will save future Earth and (hopefully) Martian governments millions (if not billions) in transport costs, and may enable humanity to reap the rewards of harvesting the asteroid belt to the benefit of the human race.
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Could Ballutes Replace Heat Shields?
A new type of technology may allow for future space craft to pack more equipment into space by replacing the heavy heat shields with a “ballute”–a cross between a parachute and a balloon.
(New Scientist Space) [I]n the last few decades, engineers have toyed with the idea of flexible, lightweight heat shields. Because they would weigh less than conventional solid shields, the weight they save could be used to carry more science instruments or other gear.Ballutes, which use pressurised gas to inflate cushions on the bottom of their payloads before entering the atmosphere, could also slow the payloads down for a soft landing. Robotic missions to Mars have dipped into the upper reaches of the planet’s atmosphere to slow down and circularise their orbits. A ballute would provide even greater surface area, increasing the atmospheric drag and maximising this “aerobraking” effect.
Although engineers have to work out a few kinks in the system (as to insuring that the ballute inflates) this technology may be quite useful and help decrease the overall expense of rockets (at least by a little).
Note: LiftPort may also want to consider this as part of their space elevator design, as insurance just in case a climber (full of people or cargo) breaks off from the tether.
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If We Build It, Will They Come?
In 1969, Neil Armstrong, Edwin Aldrin (who later on changed his legal name to Buzz) descended upon the lunar surface marking the first time humans have ever visited another terrestrial object. After several trots upon the surface, both men returned towards their space craft, blasting off back home and for a hero’s welcome.
Three years later, the Apollo programs ended, with Americans refocusing their attention on a pop culture as well as politics and slowly became disinterested in space.
In 2001, Space Adventures rekindled the hope of exploration by launching the first space tourist into orbit. Realizing the final frontier was no longer only within reach by governmental hands, space companies materialized around the world, offering pricey tickets towards the stars above.
The public was again amazed, but with space being a place for only the wealthy and the healthy, the world began refocusing on a pop culture, politics and the daily affairs of life.
Despite recent increases in funding for space programs, the public seems disinterested in space travel and sees little benefit towards the day-to-day activities of life. After all, if one is unable to take out a mortgage to the stars, why should they be interested in their children possibly living on the Moon or Mars?
If the government, scientists, and fans of cosmos want to convince all of the need to go to space, then they need to make space affordable to all, and available to all. And with prices ranging between $3,000-$7,000 per pound, humanity will not travel to the stars via rockets any time soon.
That is unless of course you can shatter the economic barrier–the glass ceiling holding back the masses–by providing a less expensive alternative. And that is something that an elevator to the stars might be able to do.
The space elevator is one of the few technologies available at reducing the cost of space from the current rock bottom price of $3,000 per pound to around $400 per pound (with some even suggesting that the price could be further reduced to a mere $23 per pound).
Reducing the cost of travel will for the first time allow millions of individuals to explore the final frontier and settle on other worlds, reclaiming space as their inheritance not only for their children but for future generations as well.
No one ever said building a structure stretching 62,000 miles from the ocean floor to outer space would be easy. Constructing such a feat will require patience, focus, invention of new technologies, and determination that will not waver in spite of what the opposition has to say.
There may be failures, but there will also be successes, and the end goal is to grant access to the stars for the not-so-poor, the physically unfit, and for businesses desiring to enhance life for everyone down on planet.
Skeptics may dismiss an elevator to the stars as way of opening up space to everyone, but then again, when was the last time anybody else provided another working solution to bring the masses into space?
“The practical dreamers have always been, and always will be the pattern-makers of civilization.” ~Napoleon Hill, Think And Grow Rich
“Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.” ~King Solomon, Ecclesiastes 7:8
Update: Corrected publishing date (this one was sitting in Draft mode for a while).
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Video: Space Elevator As Greatest Future Achievement
Although many people hear about what a space elevator is, how it will be built, etc., very few of them understand why one should be built (as many assume NASA will revamp their rocket system to get us to the stars).
This video on YouTube offers a brief explanation as to how a space elevator would benefit humanity and why one needs to be built in the first place.
What makes this video great is it highlights some of the benefits of creating a space elevator (such as space stations, revisiting the Moon and Mars, solar satellites beaming down energy, etc.). On a sad note, there was no mention of LiftPort as a contributer towards creating a space elevator (perhaps the video was made before they existed).
Note: I may be busy in the next couple of days, but in order to pass the time I’ll be featuring various essays and video’s regarding the space elevator. Stay tuned.
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Why "The Moon Before Mars" Argument Makes Sense
Out of the Cradle points to an article published by the Planetary Society Blog which reviews arguments for both the “Moon first” and “Mars first” crowd.
Although colonizing Mars would be much faster if we directly visited the planet first, any major crisis developed on the world would spell an inevitable set back for the space program (and the colonization of our Solar System).
Mars is at its closest 38 million miles away from Earth, and if any crisis happens upon that world, a rescue mission will be a couple years away. This would spell doom for not only the future colonists, but result in the quest for space to be delayed another generation.
The Moon is a lot closer to the Earth, and although the surfaces of Mars and the Moon differ greatly, it would provide a “beta environment” for us to learn how to survive off world before our species decides to settle on other planets millions of miles away.
Although going to Mars may be critical for our species, going to the moon first makes more sense.
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From Space Elevators To Solar Bridges?
Imagine if you will that a small company out of Washington State (USA) achieves the impossible. Imagine if a company called LiftPort is able to successfully build a structure spanning from the oceanic surface to 100,000 km into space.
Such a feat would revolutionize the space industry entirely, and perhaps change the way we view space as we know it. But what if humanity went beyond constructing a planetary elevator into space, and decided to create a solar bridge connecting two worlds?
Solar bridges, like space elevators, would revolutionize the way citizens on two worlds engage in trade and transportation. Instead of having to launch shuttles into space (which can become fairly tedious and expensive), residents could simply transport their goods through an inter-planetary auto-bahn without worrying about the size and the amount.
A solar bridge would also serve as a “rest stop” for future star ships needing to deploy goods between worlds. Instead of docking on a space station and requiring its resources/crew to descend upon the world via miniature rocket shuttles, a solar bridge would enable star ships to quickly deliver necessary goods by tapping into the “economic blood stream” of the planetary system.
Last but not least, a solar bridge would enable scientists, governments and businesses to conduct research within a microgravity environment without having to board a shuttle. This would not only reduce the cost of these studies, but enable them to transport the fruits of their labor back home or towards the other side.
But just like their space elevator ancestors, solar bridges would only be feasible under certain conditions, and most planetary systems would probably not be suitable to host one.
They would have to be constructed in a region free from hazardous space debris (such as asteroids, comets and space junk). They would also have to be located within a binary system whose worlds are gravitationally locked, otherwise the rotation or orbit of one of these worlds would simply tear the structure in half.
Although the only planetary system meeting these conditions is Pluto and Charon, humanity may want to consider drawing plans for such a feat, especially if they encounter binary systems in other solar systems.
Humanity is a community orientated species, and one can notice this by observing the massive bridges built between cities, and even countries. If the conditions are favorable enough, why not attempt to build something similar between two worlds?
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Are Space Elevators Earth Bound?
A group from Bremerton, Washington is attempting to achieve what some consider impossible: construct a space elevator enabling humanity to not only escape Earth’s orbit, but also reduce the cost of space travel thus opening up space for everyone.
Simply known as LiftPort, this companies goal is to construct a space elevator over 100,000 kilometers into space from an oceanic floor. But while constructing a space elevator may be feasible on Earth, building one off world may not.
In order for the space elevator cable to remain “straight” and upright, centrifugal force is needed to counteract the pull of gravity. Like a yoyo needs to be constantly spun around a hand in order to remain “a float,” so will the counter weight of the space elevator need to be in motion around a world, otherwise it will collapse below to the surface.
Although Earth provides enough momentum with its 24 hour rotation, other worlds may lack the rotational speed to make construction a space elevator on them reasonable. Planets such as Mercury (if we could colonize it) and Venus may not be suitable since both planets have solar days that can last a couple months (if not longer).
An object as long as the space elevator would have much of its length exposed to the hazards of space, such as meteoroids and micrometeorites. Although it may be possible to move the space elevator slightly to avoid a collision with a small asteroid near the top, protecting the base of the elevator is critical in order to prevent the entire structure from drifting off into space via destruction of the “bottom anchor.”
Earth’s atmosphere presents a nice shield against these rocky intruders, protecting not only life on our homeworld, but also any future space elevator project. Despite the Moon being seen as a secondary location for a space elevator, it lacks a notable shield protecting it from the numerous meteoroids that hit the lunar surface.
The last thing investors would like to hear about on the news would be a space elevator either heading off into deep space or (even worse) one heading towards planet Earth itself.
Last but not least, a space elevator needs to be constructed in a zone free from atmospheric interference. Weather can determine whether or not a vehicle launches into space, and it would be silly to construct a space elevator in the middle of hurricane avenue as one would ensure its demise.
Some people see Mars as another possible world to construct a space elevator. With its 24 1/2 days, and an atmosphere that may protect it from meteorites (at least from comet particles) the red planet looks like an ideal spot.
Unfortunately Martian storms are known to cover the entire planet and it may be more reasonable to use the Martian moons as midway points (for smaller and larger ships) than to rebuild a space elevator every so often (due to its destruction via a global storm).
Although building a space elevator off world may prove to be unreasonable, building one on our own may not. The space elevator is one of four ways to transport objects from Earth to space (with the other three being chemical rockets, nuclear propulsion, and magnetic sled) and perhaps the only way to safely transport objects from space to Earth’s surface.
The space elevator has the potential to revolutionize life on Earth as we know it and may be a necessary stepping stone to transport the masses from this Earthen cradle onto other worlds in our solar playground–and beyond towards the final frontier.
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Japan Aiming For Moon Base By 2030
Despite having a zero track record in sending humans into space, the samurai nation is aiming at constructing a lunar base on the Moon by 2030.
(New Scientist Space) Japan’s space agency has set a goal of constructing a crewed lunar base by 2030, an official said on Wednesday.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) revealed its ambition to an international conference in Tokyo this week but has not yet been allotted the budget for the ambitious project. [...]
“The feasibility of the plan is unclear at this point as we need to gain understanding by the government and the Japanese people on our plan, but technologically it would be possible in a few decades,” said Satoki Kurokawa, spokesman for JAXA.
Despite being known as a tech savvy country, I am not sure if the nation of Japan is serious about space travel. Their Chinese “neighbor” has already begun space farming via satellites and is already planning to build a space station next year.
Japan better start thinking of ways to promote a space culture before the red dragon leaves them behind as a second rate space power.
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Future Spacesuit, Heal Thyself!
This technology would not only benefit astronauts in space, but also future colonists on Mars and the Moon.
(New Scientist Tech) Future spacesuits could have some remarkable new abilities. They could self-repair holes, generate electricity and kill germs, thanks to new “smart” materials. Such suits may be ready for use by 2018, when NASA hopes to return to the Moon. [...]
The spacesuit would be self-healing because its innermost layer, which provides the spacesuit’s airtight seal, is filled with a thick polymer gel. The rubber-like gel is sandwiched between two thin layers of polyurethane so that if a hole forms in these layers, the gel oozes from surrounding areas to plug it. In vacuum chamber tests, the gel healed punctures up to 2 millimetres wide.
Developed by ILC Dover LP (from Delaware) for NASA, these future spacesuits may prove quite useful, especially when one considers the hazards of space junk that orbits our world. I could also see this technology utilized for future colonists on the Moon, (for obvious reasons) not to mention future minors in the asteroid belt.
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New Ion Cannon Could Bring Us To Saturn
A new ion cannon built by Aerojet (an aerospace company located in Sacramento, California) may provide future space craft with the power necessary to bring them all the way to Saturn’s moon, Titan.
(New Scientist Space) An ion engine several times more powerful than any previously flown is being tested by NASA. It could propel a spacecraft all the way to Saturn’s moon Titan.Ion engines operate by removing electrons from atoms of a gas–usually xenon–and then accelerating the resulting ions through an electric field. The ions are shot out the back of the engine to create thrust.
The engines provide much less thrust at any given time than do rockets. But they are much more fuel efficient, providing a steady source of propulsion that could ideally be used to take spacecraft to the outer solar system.
This technology will be quite useful for satellite’s traveling in deep space as well as future explorers traveling throughout the asteroid belt. Despite being fuel efficient, we may need something a little faster for colonists as traveling through space can become quite dangerous.
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