From: Spudboy100@aol.com
Date: Mon Aug 12 2002 - 14:21:27 MDT
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/2188107.stm
Monday, 12 August, 2002, 09:54 GMT 10:54 UK
Space elevator takes off
Could the shuttle become obsolete? Taking a lift into space may sound like
science fiction but scientists are meeting in Seattle to discuss how to build
such an elevator. Seattle-based company High Lift Systems is looking into the
idea, backed by a $570,000 grant from the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration, (Nasa).
The company is holding a two-day conference to discuss the technology and
funding and hopes to begin construction within the next few years.
"Technology is now catching up with science fiction. It should be taken
pretty seriously," said Brad Edwards of High Lift Systems.
"The technology's not quite here, but in the next couple of years the
technology could be ready to consider construction of the first space
elevator."
Catapulted into space The concept is simple. The elevator is essentially a
cable, attached at one end to an ocean-going platform. Whoever puts up the
first elevator could eventually own space for the next 100 years Brad
Edwards, High Lift Systems. At the other end it is connected to a satellite,
in orbit 35,000 kilometres above the Earth. Commercial loads, such as
sections of space stations, and eventually, perhaps, human tourists, are then
mechanically pulled up the cable and catapulted into orbit at a fraction of
the present cost.
Dr Edwards says that whoever builds that first elevator, at a cost of $10bn,
will have a huge advantage over any competitors. "In the next 15 years you
could have 10 elevators up, you could have large elevators, you could have
thrown an elevator to Mars," he said.
"Now you can use those wonderful capitalistic practices and drop your prices
to zero. Whoever puts up the first elevator could eventually own space for
the next 100 years."
The European Space Agency, Nasa and investment companies are attending the
two-day conference. Nasa's Dr Robert Cassanova says that although the
elevator has a lot of potential, there are still technical and financial
problems.
He says that we should not expect to see that first lift into space for at
least another 50 years.
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