4. A New Space Transportation system
being developed that could make travel
to geostationary earth orbit a daily event
and transform the global economy .
It’s a fiction that could become reality in
the near future. Its height may be
around 62000 mile ( 100000 km ).
5. Base Station
Cables
Climbers
Powering Climbers
6. The base stations are
classified in two
categories : Stationary
and Mobile Base Station.
Mobile stations are
typically large
oceangoing vessels.
Stationary stations are
located on high altitudes
such as on the top of
mountains or on high
towers etc.
7. The cable must be made
up of a material with high
tensile strength or density
ratio.
Carbon nanotube is the
most preferred material
for making the cables. A
special type of carbon
nanotube called colossal
carbon tube which is
strong and light enough
may be used for making
the cables .
8. These are mainly the
robotic lifter which
uses the ribbon to
move in the space.
Traction tread rollers
on the lifter would
clamp on to the ribbon
and pull the ribbon
through, enabling the
elevator to climb up the
lifter .
9. These are just a source of energy and power for the
climber.
The energy can be transferred to the climber through
various methods .
Transfer the energy to the climber through wireless
energy transfer while it is climbing.
Transfer the energy to the climber through some
material structure while it is climbing.
Store the energy in the climber before it starts –
requires an extremely high specific energy such as
nuclear energy.
Solar power – power compared to the weight of
panels limits the speed of climb
10. A space elevator could also be
constructed on other planets, asteroids
and moon.
Could be constructed between two
different planets.
11. Low operations costs - US$250/kg to LEO,
GEO, Moon, Mars, Venus or the asteroid belt
No launch vibrations
Safe access to space - no explosive
propellants or dangerous launch or re-entry
forces
Easily expandable to large systems or
multiple systems
Easily implemented at many solar system
locations
12. A space elevator may cause a
navigational hazard both to aircraft and
spacecraft
Impacts made by the meteoroids and
micrometeorites pose a more difficult
problem to the space elevator.
13. Thespace elevator is a revolutionary Earth-to-
space transportation system that will enable
space exploration
Design, deployment and operational scenarios
for the first space elevator have been put
together. Potential challenges have been laid
out and solutions developed.
Development of the space elevator requires an
investment in materials and engineering but is
achievable in the near future with a reasonable
investment and development plan.
