Successful First Tests of Space Elevator Technology

Lord Zentei · Post by **Lord Zentei** » 2005-09-28 12:17pm

A small step, but a step nonetheless:

Spaceref[b] wrote:LiftPort Group, the Space Elevator Companies, Successfully Completes First Tests of Its Space Elevator Technology[/b]

LiftPort Group, the space elevator companies, has announced that it has successfully completed preliminary tests of its high altitude robotic lifters under its waiver to use airspace granted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The lifters are early prototypes of the technology that the company is developing for use in the LiftPort Space Elevator, its commercial space elevator to ferry cargo back and forth into space.

In tests conducted in Washington state last week, the robotic lifters successfully climbed 1,000 feet up a simulated, working space elevator -- a model elevator "ribbon" attached to a moored high altitude balloon. According to the company, these tests represent the first-ever use of this technology on a free-hanging ribbon in the development of the LiftPort space elevator concept.

"These tests mark an historic milestone, in regards to the general space elevator concept as well in the development of the LiftPort Space Elevator, and we appreciate the FAA's willingness to work with us on these tests," said Michael Laine, president of LiftPort Group. "The ability to test our hardware in a simulated working environment is a critical step in the ultimate development of the LiftPort Space Elevator. Additionally, these tests are dual use -- not only will they help us learn more about the things we need to do to ultimately build the LiftPort Space Elevator, but they have great value for real world applications today. Our system called HALE (High Altitude Long Endurance) will have uses in a variety of fields. For example, after a natural disaster, we can provide radio, cellular or Internet access using our platform as a relay station. Or it could provide real time surveillance over the damaged region. Once our hardware is tested, we believe it can be deployed to save lives."

The company plans additional tests later this fall. Dates for the tests will be forthcoming.

A revolutionary way to send cargo into space, the LiftPort Space Elevator will consist of a carbon nanotube composite ribbon eventually stretching some 62,000 miles from earth to space. The LiftPort Space Elevator plans to be anchored to an offshore sea platform near the equator in the Pacific Ocean, and to a small man-made counterweight in space. Mechanical lifters are expected to move up and down the ribbon, carrying such items as people, satellites and solar power systems into space.

Headquartered in Bremerton, Wash., LiftPort Inc. is a privately held company dedicated to the development of the first commercial elevator to space. For more information, or to sign up for a free subscription to the company's newsletter on the LiftPort Space Elevator, visit at the company's web site at www.liftport.com

Contact:

LiftPort Inc.
Michael Laine, 360-377-0623
info@liftport.com
or
Belinda Young Public Relations
Belinda Young, 206-932-3145
byoung@bypr.com

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2005-09-28 01:05pm

Well that’s nice, but making the elevator climb the cable isn’t the hard part. The hard part is building a cable, and there are many examples of a small company, which made made small tests of some amazing new technology and then disappeared after a few years.

Gil Hamilton · Post by **Gil Hamilton** » 2005-09-28 01:07pm

I hope we get behind this soon, because if space elevators prove feasible, the first group to build on is going to have a huge advantage in space.

nickolay1 · Post by **nickolay1** » 2005-09-28 02:04pm

Actually, the first group to patent one is going to have the huge advantage.

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2005-09-28 02:58pm

Gil Hamilton wrote:I hope we get behind this soon, because if space elevators prove feasible, the first group to build on is going to have a huge advantage in space.

If nothing else, it'd be a huge money saver compared to costly shuttle and rocket launches.

tumbletom · Post by **tumbletom** » 2005-09-28 03:05pm

Just curious, and I dont know much about space elevators, but is it possible for the cable to fall if it breaks or something?

Like what would happen if you cut the cable at the ground?

And also if it falls, what would the effects of it falling be?

nickolay1 · Post by **nickolay1** » 2005-09-28 03:28pm

Of course it's possible. If cut from the ground, the cable would likely drift away, as there's a countreweight in space intended to keep it under tension. If the counterweight was cut, the cable would probably just fall down and burn up upon reentry.

Lord Zentei · Post by **Lord Zentei** » 2005-09-28 03:33pm

tumbletom wrote:Just curious, and I dont know much about space elevators, but is it possible for the cable to fall if it breaks or something?

Like what would happen if you cut the cable at the ground?

And also if it falls, what would the effects of it falling be?

The center of mass of the entire assemblage (space station plus cable) is in geosynchronous orbit: the cable is dropped down from the station and anchored.

If the cable snaps near the surface, I imagine that there will be quite a whiplash, since the tension in the cable is quite enormous. If the cable snaps higher up, parts of it will burn up in the atmosphere, others will remain in an unstable orbit for awhile while still others will hit the ground. The exact effects will depend on the mass of the cable, obviously, which will depend on the material. So, thus far, it is a mite hard to tell.

Gil Hamilton · Post by **Gil Hamilton** » 2005-09-28 10:18pm

nickolay1 wrote:Actually, the first group to patent one is going to have the huge advantage.

Not just that. The first group that actually builds one has a huge advantage in build more, both in time and cost.

tharkûn · Post by **tharkûn** » 2005-09-28 10:50pm

If nothing else, it'd be a huge money saver compared to costly shuttle and rocket launches.

That depends. How cheap is your material and how many missions of what size is going to require to loft it? After that how long is operational lifetime and how costly is repair? While it is most likely going to be cheaper to climb a tether, you need a lot of mass going up to pay off the material costs.

Like what would happen if you cut the cable at the ground?

The elevator would rise up into a higher orbit unless you had rockets holding it down.

And also if it falls, what would the effects of it falling be?

Depends on how you make the cable. Most proposals center upon some oxidatively reactive material (carbon nanotubes, diamond lattice, boron nitrile tubes, etc.) In the process of falling, particularly when at high velocities from tension release, you will generate large amounts of heat and ignite the cable. Given the required low density, I'd expect much the cable to burn up before impact. What doesn't combust due to heating will fall at terminal velocity and not do catastrophic damage when it hits the ground.

Of course severing the cable is going to require some major efforts as firstly it is supporting a friggening cable to space and enough safety margin to deal with the shear forces generated by wind of a frigging huge surface area. Given the economic investment you'd be a fool not to have a no fly zone enforced with SAMs and have ridiciously high security levels. A major military could snap it, however any nation considering such action would be faced with blockades and retaliatory action commesirate with the massive cost of the elevator (which will most assuredly be measured in high billions or trillions). Snapping at any point realling high on the cable simply is not going to happen barring somebody starting WWIII.