MetaFilter posts tagged with spaceelevator

Japan in the Space Elevator race

p3t3 — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 21:41:45 -0800

Japan is showing renewed interest as another contender in the race to build the world's first space elevator. Japanese scientists believe they can complete the project with an optimistic trillion yen budget, and are sponsoring an international conference (no English) this November to draw up a timetable. After recent Elevator:2010 competitions (previously), of which no entries have yet managed to claim prize money, and ongoing efforts from NASA, and private investors, we'll see if Japan can up the game in the coming months. More info on the Japan conference, and other upcoming international events at the Space Elevator Blog.

step aside xprize

Grod — Mon, 06 Sep 2004 16:07:50 -0800

Step aside xprize, here comes the elevator 2010 challenge. Sponsored by the Spaceward Foundation this is a "public challenge centered around the Space Elevator concept, offering a substantial prize for the first laser-powered tether climbing demonstration that can meet specific criteria." more here.

Stairway to Heaven

alms — Tue, 23 Sep 2003 18:34:12 -0800

An Elevator to the Stars. The paper of record claims this isn't science fiction, but do we really believe that in ten years we'll be able to build a 60,000 mile long cable capable of supporting 13 ton cargo loads? Would you trust this to take you into asynchronous orbit? (Or maybe you just want to make like Joe Kittinger and jump out at 100,000 feet.)

Then there were two

krisjohn — Tue, 18 Mar 2003 18:58:03 -0800

Seattle PI have picked up the news that there's now competition in the race to build a space elevator. Liftport are the new kids on the block, with a website that only went online about 24 hours ago. I'm watching them build the message board as I type. Nothing like a bit of uplifting science news (pun unavoidable).

tsarfan — Wed, 27 Mar 2002 21:49:58 -0800

"Even though the challenges to bring the space elevator to reality are substantial, there are no physical or economic reasons why it can't be built in our lifetime."

Once just a cool sci-fi idea dreampt up by Arthur Clarke, Space.com reports that a 62,000 mile ride is not only possible, but probable. And cheap at only a couple hundred bucks per pound.

thirteen — Sun, 07 Jan 2001 15:59:35 -0800

Inspired partly by science fiction, NASA scientists are seriously considering space elevators as a mass-transit system for the next century.
If they hurry, I just might be able to make it into space before I die. Speed the plow Poindexter!