A Space Elevator By 2050

[Paan Singh]

22,000TH FLOOR: An artist’s illustration of a space elevator hub station in space as a transport car rides up the line toward the orbital platform. Solar panels nearby provide power.

People could be gliding up to space on high-tech elevators by 2050 if a Japanese construction company’s ambitious plans come to fruition.Tokyo-based Obayashi Corp. wants to build an operational space elevator by the middle of the century, Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper reported on Feb. 22. The device would carry passengers skyward at about 124 mph (200 kph), delivering them to a station 22,000 miles (36,000 kilometers) above Earth in a little more than a week.In Obayashi’s vision, a cable would be stretched from a spaceport on Earth’s surface up to an altitude of 60,000 miles (96,000 km), or about one-quarter of the distance between our planet and the moon. A counterweight at its end would help “anchor” the cable in space.A 30-passenger car would travel along the cable, possibly using magnetic linear motors as a means of propulsion, Yomiuri Shimbun reported. Passengers would disembark at the station, which would house living quarters and laboratory space, along with a solar-power generation facility capable of transmitting power to the ground.



For decades, space elevators have been touted by futurists and science-fiction writers, including Arthur C. Clarke, as an alternative to expensive (and relatively dangerous) rocket launches. But so far, nobody has managed to bring the concept into the realm of reality.One major hurdle has been finding a material strong and light enough to build the incredibly long cable. Obayashi’s optimism is fueled partly by its belief that a suitable material has finally been identified — tiny cylindrical structures called carbon nanotubes, which were first developed in the 1990s.But nanotube tech isn’t quite ready yet; engineers likely must find a way to manufacture them more cheaply and efficiently to make space elevators feasible, company officials said.Indeed, the elevator’s price tag could be the steepest hurdle to its construction.“At this moment, we cannot estimate the cost for the project,” an Obayashi official said, according to Yomiuri Shimbun. “However, we’ll try to make steady progress so that it won’t end just up as simply a dream.”Obayashi is not the only entity taking this dream seriously.For example, NASA researchers released a lengthy report more than a decade ago citing the potential of carbon nanotubes to make space elevators possible. And the agency has sponsored the Space Elevator Games, a contest to develop precursors to this longed-for transportation system

Space elevator could be reality by 2050, says Japanese company

 

[The SC]

As a fantasy teleportation should be easier.

 

[Impasse]

Wow.. Imagine the cost...

 

[Rank]

Not practically possible because earth is always in motion (moving) mode

 

[canadian icehole]

It's good that space have not been forgotten. Unfortunately, a meteor shower would kill it.

 

[sweetgrape]

I read the idea many years before, It is cool, But I don't think it will come true in 40 years.

Not practically possible because earth is always in moving mode

It is possible, if its terminal can keep relatively stationary to earth, Just like a geostationary satellite..

 

[Saifullah Sani]

Obayashi Corp. Plans To Have A Space Elevator Operational By 2050
A Japanese company is looking to take elevators to new heights. The Daily Yomiuri reports that Tokyo-based construction company Obayashi Corp. hopes to have a space elevator operational by 2050, carrying passengers and cargo in a vehicle that travels along a ribbon made of carbon nanotubes extending a quarter of the way to the moon.
A counterweight at the end of the 96,000 kilometer (59,652 mile) cable would anchor the entire assembly, which is connected to a station on the ground. Passengers would travel from the surface of the Earth to a terminal station housing a research center and residential facilities located about 36,000 kilometers (22,369 miles) up the ribbon in a car traveling at 200 km/h (124 mph). At that speed the journey is anticipated to take about a week.

Solar panels at the same elevation as the terminal station would provide its electricity and also send power back to the surface.

The concept of elevators reaching into space has been around since 1895 when Russian scientist Konstantin Tsiolkovsky was inspired by the newly built Eiffel Tower to first conceive of the idea of a free-standing tower reaching into geostationary orbit from the Earth’s surface. The idea has since become a staple of science fiction, but in recent years conferences have been held on the topic and NASA has also been actively involved in efforts to make them a reality.

But finding a material light enough and strong enough to create such a long cable has been a significant obstacle. Obayashi and others believe carbon nanotubes can get the job done, making them the key to the ambitious project.

Obayashi is not yet saying how much they estimate the project will cost, but when it’s up and running, it hopes to transport 30 passengers at a time along the space cable, perhaps using magnetic linear motors. The company also hasn’t revealed a location for the space elevator, but as it relies on centrifugal forces to keep the ribbon taut, the base station needs to be located along – or at least close to – the equator.

Obayashi Corp. Plans To Have A Space Elevator Operational By 2050 - Gadgets Valley

 

[Skull and Bones]

Not practically possible because earth is always in motion (moving) mode

And you think they overlooked that?

 

[Splurgenxs]

Not practically possible because earth is always in motion (moving) mode

whats moving mode?


Geostationary satellites and objects tend to be at the appropriate distance due to which there orbital speeds tend to match the rotation speed of the Earth on tis axis.

This tends keep the object in a relative stationary location over a given location.

 

[killerx]

its an science man its not possible the earth is constanly spining and the starting point would be not still any one would be able to jump on

 

[Holmes]

A good ray of hope that it'll be done as it's being done by the Japanese....!

 

[Zabaniyah]

It's technically possible. But it'll be a HUGE project.

I don't care what country achieves this, but it is my dream.

 

[russellpeters]

science will have much to learn by the first human landing on say venus.

if this happens it will be more of an engineering (and financial) feat.

 

[Indian Tiger]

its an science man its not possible the earth is constanly spining and the starting point would be not still any one would be able to jump on

Do you have any idea, how spy satellites are placed on the orbit to have a look at other countries even though the earth is spinning??? lol...

this project is 100% possible.

 

[Nair saab]

its an science man its not possible the earth is constanly spining and the starting point would be not still any one would be able to jump on

By Reading ur Post i think by the Completion Date of this Project U would be around 45... Hope u Get my post...