A Japanese construction company, Obayashi Corporation, has been investigating the concept for a space elevator. Their researchers believe that advances in carbon nanotechnology could make a space elevator possible as soon as 2030.
Elevator into orbit —
A Japanese construction company, Obayashi Corporation, has been investigating the concept for a space elevator. Their researchers believe that advances in carbon nanotechnology could make a space elevator possible as soon as 2030.
Obayashi Corporation
The concept for an elevator into space is almost 120 years old and was first published by the Russian father of modern rocketry Konstantin Tsiolkovsky in 1895. Advances in nanotechnology could finally produce a cable strong enough to tether an orbiting space station.
Elevator into orbit —
The concept for an elevator into space is almost 120 years old and was first published by the Russian father of modern rocketry Konstantin Tsiolkovsky in 1895. Advances in nanotechnology could finally produce a cable strong enough to tether an orbiting space station.
Nasa
A space station tethered to the earth at the equator would need a cable some 96,000km long. While researchers have only produced short lengths of tough and lightweight 'nanothreads,' scientists say advances that would make a space elevator possible are only decades away.
Elevator into orbit —
A space station tethered to the earth at the equator would need a cable some 96,000km long. While researchers have only produced short lengths of tough and lightweight 'nanothreads,' scientists say advances that would make a space elevator possible are only decades away.
Obayashi corporation
Diamond 'nanothreads' are stronger and more resilient than today's strongest nanotubes and polymers. At the core of the nanothread is a thin strand of carbon atoms arranged in the same basic pyramidal shape of a diamond's structure.
Elevator into orbit —
Diamond 'nanothreads' are stronger and more resilient than today's strongest nanotubes and polymers. At the core of the nanothread is a thin strand of carbon atoms arranged in the same basic pyramidal shape of a diamond's structure.
Penn State University
Research head at Penn State University Professor John Badding said: "Because this thread is diamond at heart, we expect that it will prove to be extraordinarily stiff, extraordinarily strong, and extraordinarily useful."
Elevator into orbit —
Research head at Penn State University Professor John Badding said: "Because this thread is diamond at heart, we expect that it will prove to be extraordinarily stiff, extraordinarily strong, and extraordinarily useful."
Penn State University
The Slingatron is another non-rocket technology that is being investigated as a means of launching a projectile into space. This model from Hyper-V Technologies - which is based on the principles of centrifugal force - is currently seeking<a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kickstarter.com%2Fprojects%2F391496725%2Fthe-slingatron-building-a-railroad-to-space" target="_blank" target="_blank"> crowdfunding</a> to get the project off the ground.
Elevator into orbit —
The Slingatron is another non-rocket technology that is being investigated as a means of launching a projectile into space. This model from Hyper-V Technologies - which is based on the principles of centrifugal force - is currently seeking crowdfunding to get the project off the ground.
HyperV Technologies Inc.
NASA has a unit that has experimented with rail-assisted launch technology. The concept involves a high-speed maglev rocket sled that would shoot a projectile into the stratosphere before ramjets or scramjets powered it the final leg into space.
Elevator into orbit —
NASA has a unit that has experimented with rail-assisted launch technology. The concept involves a high-speed maglev rocket sled that would shoot a projectile into the stratosphere before ramjets or scramjets powered it the final leg into space.
Nasa
An artist's impression shows a potential design for a rail-launched aircraft and spacecraft. Early designs envision a 2-mile-long track at Kennedy Space Center shooting a Mach 10-capable carrier aircraft to the upper reaches of the atmosphere.
Elevator into orbit —
An artist's impression shows a potential design for a rail-launched aircraft and spacecraft. Early designs envision a 2-mile-long track at Kennedy Space Center shooting a Mach 10-capable carrier aircraft to the upper reaches of the atmosphere.
Nasa