The space elevator concept, which could elevate humans and cargo from the surface of the Earth into space, has intrigued scientists and engineers through the years. Japan’s Obayashi Corporation approaches the dream with many technological difficulties. If successfully built, the space elevator will change the concept of space travel by making it an affordable option for speeding to other planets.
An eventual world without space rocket: Space elevators
A space elevator is just a cable attached to the space from earth-everything else is transport without rocket propulsion. Many heavy, expensive rocket engines would otherwise be required to use this elevator, but instead of that, it will have electromagnetic vehicles called climbers, powered by renewables such as solar power or microwaves.
These climbers will get goods up to the orbit, thus bringing down the cost of sending something into space to few dimes per kilogram. Now that a lot of hype about space elevators for not just orbit but also to other planets has begun surfacing throughout media and journals, probably one of the most publicized examples of these would be travel to the earth’s neighboring planet Mars.
Estimates show that it could possibly reduce travel time to Mars drastically, from about 6 months as it would usually take down to less than two months, maybe as little as 40 days. Such innovations could revolutionize space exploration into a more feasible, less expensive future for human colonization on such planets as Mars.
The ultimate task for space elevator: Obtaining optimal material for the tether
The whole idea of a space elevator sounds promising and futuristic, but there are certain challenges associated with it. One such challenge is the material used to build the tether. The tether must be very strong because it is required to hold an object’s weight and tension up to the point where that object reaches the geosynchronous orbit wherein an object’s line will be very careful not to let it sink under the earth’s gravity but so far has not studied advanced materials such as steel and beyond this form of concern.
A perfect substitute would be carbon nanotubes, whose properties include being two or three times stronger and lighter than steel. However, the current technology in nanotubes has not progressed sufficiently in that the longest nanotubes are hardly measuring a few feet and have still far to go to reach the magical figure of around 40,000 kilometres for such to become a space elevator.
The tether will also have to withstand almost extreme conditions such as lightning strikes, tornadoes, and hurricanes. Weather cannot be avoided by positioning the tether base at along the equator, but the tether must remain much less susceptible to disasters. The project will involve huge overall area and finances-inestimably about $100 billion. Such project collaboration could never be from only one industry but more from many.
The significant implication of a possible space
elevator in reduction of cost for launch missions by nearly 90% in space travel
The crucial positives of the vision of the space elevator are amazing changes in its drawbacks. The most important, perhaps, the cost was going to be more than 90% reduced, including the cost of even sending up heavy payloads.
For instance, according to Obayashi Corporation, the cost would drop from the evolutions of commercial rocket technologies to just $24 per kilogram for delivery into space as abrasion lighter than the current $552 per kilogram.
Such reductions will open space to new industries such as space mining and space tourism. Space elevators, in comparison with rockets, would also be rather safer, failing oxidation risk at launch. The elevators would be electrically operated, causing no emissions and forming an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional space travel means.
Although it is slower than a travel speed of about 200 kilometres per hour, the space elevator would help transport sensitive instruments, as it would create less vibration, making minimal damage to delicate instruments. Constructing a space elevator is indeed a dream and a goal with very many challenges. It is believed that possibly, by the year 2050, such an undertaking could be translated into reality by ongoing research in materials science and construction techniques.
Construction will soon begin, according to the plans
formulated by the Obayashi Corporation, but it may really sound like a fairy
tale. However, great benefits will result from achieving this dream. If it were
to be successful, it could usher in a new era in space exploration, a dream
that would very likely turn science fiction into reality.
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