Japanese Company Aims for Space Elevator by 2050

[james]

by Mike Wall, SPACE.com Senior Writer
Date: 23 February 2012 Time: 06:55 AM ET



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 Wednesday (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.

continued..

[Russell]

by Mike Wall, SPACE.com Senior Writer
Date: 23 February 2012 Time: 06:55 AM ET


(Image replaced)

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 Wednesday (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.

continued..

According to Wikipedia this is actually a very old idea, but it has only recently become viable because of novel technologies and materials. The cable should be able to hold a weight of 30 tons, yet not have a diameter exceeding 1mm at some parts. Currently only carbon nanotubes have the potential for this application. One can only marvel at ingenuity of mankind.

For the people who are likely going to say this is a waste of money, here is a quote from Wikipedia:
[quote]With a space elevator, materials might be sent into orbit at a fraction of the current cost. As of 2000, conventional rocket designs cost about US$11,000 per pound (US$25,000 per kilogram) for transfer to geostationary orbit. Current proposals envision payload prices starting as low as $100 per pound ($220 per kilogram), similar to the $5–]

[sublight]

Yeah, them and every other architecture/engineering firm. The idea behind the space elevator is very simple, the problem is that there aren't any materials that even come close to being strong and light enough.

And Obayashi, just like every other team that claims to be working on a space elevator, is leaving the real work of developing the carbon nanotubes to other people.

[james]

(Image replaced)

i have to say, i like yours much better!

[Big Boy]

This is just recockulous. Before they plan outter space, they need to first fix the fucking elevators on earth. It can take me up to 10 minutes to ride the lift just to my mansion's 11fl because of the resident CTs pressing EVERY floor button for shits and giggys and the wiffers wheeling in and out their charis filled with shopping crap.

[Coligny]

My favorit feature on japanese elevators is, even for brand new mansion, shoulder height cheap carpetting glued to the sides of the cabin with packing tape. Just add a classy touch to a country where everything already look like shit anyway...

[Russell]

OK people, we're talking about space elevators here, not elevators in mansions.

Something with comparing the Tower of Babel to an ant hill...

[Coligny]

[Russell]

[sublight]

[IparryU]

xkcd on Clarke's prediction:
"So all we have to do is get Mind of Mencia on every channel and wait."

me loves this site

snots for you

[plaid_knight]

all we have to do is get Mind of Mencia on every channel

http://wesleying.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/do-not-want-original.jpg

[Yosh]

I've been reading up on the space elevator concept for some time and I think it's preposterous for a number of reasons. First off - head over to Ted.com and search for carbon nanotubes. With the technology we have today we can manufacture not even one foot of the proposed material. Secondly, why in God's name would we require transportation to a static orbital station - tourism? Get serious. The space elevator is a folly of national proportions and has a potential for disaster beyond anything like we've seen with the space shuttle. Finally, how would we look on the galactic stage with this unweldly string sticking out of the planet? We'd be a laughing stock!

I hate the space elevator and all those who support the idea. If you disagree with me then I hereby revoke your entitlement to your own opinion.

[Netherlander]

I'm no scientist, but what if even slightly this so called "space elevator" somehow nudged our planet out of its orbit, because it is fucking up our planet's revolutionary (orbital) path around the sun. Then we are really fucked. I don't even want to imagine the affect it might have on the rotation on its axis, which is responsible for the seasons we have.

[Yosh]

With a comment like that I certainly hope you're no scientist!

It wouldn't have any effect on the orbit of the planet, although it probably would get bombarded with rays, space particles, collide with satellites and other inbound detrius and wind up bringing the whole orchestration either crashing down or sailing off into space, abandoning the poor souls who took the misguided journey

[Yokohammer]

You're all a bunch of scientifically challenged armchair cosmologists!

It would obviously poke a hole in the ozone layer, allowing all the UV radiation in the universe to rush in and take global warming to it's gruesome finale in a matter of seconds!

Amateurs ...

[Russell]

I've been reading up on the space elevator concept for some time and I think it's preposterous for a number of reasons. First off - head over to Ted.com and search for carbon nanotubes. With the technology we have today we can manufacture not even one foot of the proposed material. Secondly, why in God's name would we require transportation to a static orbital station - tourism? Get serious. The space elevator is a folly of national proportions and has a potential for disaster beyond anything like we've seen with the space shuttle. Finally, how would we look on the galactic stage with this unweldly string sticking out of the planet? We'd be a laughing stock!

I hate the space elevator and all those who support the idea. If you disagree with me then I hereby revoke your entitlement to your own opinion.

The main argument for a space elevator is cost. In this way it costs a mere 1% to bring materials in orbit around the earth, as compared to using rockets.

With regard to nanotube manufacturing technology, yes, as of today it is possible to grow carbon nanotubes up to a few centimeters, which is far short of the intended length. There is, however, no fundamental reason why growth to much greater lengths would be impossible. It is just a matter of giving technology the time to develop.

Your other arguments sound even less convincing. It would make us the laughing stock of the universe? Well, sorry to disappoint you, we already are. Imagine those aliens seeing us launching materials in space by the very inefficient technology of rockets. And they must be rolling over the floor when observing all those poor souls wasting their time on forums like FG...

[Russell]

I'm no scientist, but what if even slightly this so called "space elevator" somehow nudged our planet out of its orbit, because it is fucking up our planet's revolutionary (orbital) path around the sun. Then we are really fucked. I don't even want to imagine the affect it might have on the rotation on its axis, which is responsible for the seasons we have.

No such risks.

However, it is possible to create an electric current flowing through the carbon nanotubes cable as a result of it moving through the magnetic field of the earth due to the earth's rotation. This is a substantial source of energy, and if it is tapped, it may slow down the rotation of the earth, though the effect will be tiny.

[gaijinpunch]

why in God's name would we require transportation to a static orbital station - tourism? Get serious.

Not only what Russell so eloquently put, but who says you have to stay on that one static station? You could take a shuttle to somewhere else -- like the Moon. 1 trip in the elevator has taken 30 people into orbit for a fraction of the cost. Read up on escape velocity to find out why.

[Netherlander]

You're all a bunch of scientifically challenged armchair cosmologists!

Thank you very much

[Greji]

You're all a bunch of scientifically challenged armchair cosmologists!

It would obviously poke a hole in the ozone layer, allowing all the UV radiation in the universe to rush in and take global warming to it's gruesome finale in a matter of seconds!

Amateurs ...

Beam me up Scottie!

[Coligny]

Beam me up Scottie!

Seks.... in spaaaaaacccceeee...

And in an elevator....

it's like double plus good...

[Level3]

Just as important is the psychological research. How can we make people tolerate constant elevator Muzak for 1 whole week!

I can see it now - Elevator arrives at space station full of slaughtered people and 1 lone man maniacally humming "The Girl From Ipanema" over and over.

[Russell]

You're all a bunch of scientifically challenged armchair cosmologists!

Do not underestimate armchair cosmologists...

[Coligny]

Just as important is the psychological research. How can we make people tolerate constant elevator Muzak for 1 whole week!

I can see it now - Elevator arrives at space station full of slaughtered people and 1 lone man maniacally humming "The Girl From Ipanema" over and over.

Frack...

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Level3 again.

[Coligny]

Do not underestimate armchair cosmologists...

That guy is a master pimp... his wife filled for divorce after discovering he was boning one of his nurse...

I mean...

I HAVE TO PAY FOR A NURSE TO TALK TO ME... (for mah next appointment at the dentist mostly...)

[Yokohammer]

Do not underestimate armchair cosmologists...

Haww!!
Nice one.
[SIZE="1"]Although to be a pedantic prick about it, he'd be more of a wheelchair cosmologist.[/SIZE]

[Russell]

That guy is a master pimp... his wife filled for divorce after discovering he was boning one of his nurse...

I mean...

I HAVE TO PAY FOR A NURSE TO TALK TO ME... (for mah next appointment at the dentist mostly...)

It's maybe because he has more charisma than you...

But what do you expect from a guy who has talked his whole life about the Big Bang?

And now he has become color blind too, starting to confuse black holes with pink ones.

[Coligny]

And now he has become color blind too, starting to confuse black holes with pink ones.

BEST

EXCUSE

EVAR

!!!!

[matsuki]

BEST

EXCUSE

EVAR

!!!!

...until he finds out how much more dangerous the pink holes are