Science fiction space elevator has been used for a long time, but Obayashi Corporation of Japan has announced plans to build over the next 40 years. If they succeed, it could revolutionize space travel - it is estimated that the space elevator lift people into space would cost just one per cent of the current.
While this may sound incredibly, 2012. an international study has shown that the space elevator is implemented in terms of scientific progress on a super strong carbon nanotube development. "Threads strength is nearly one hundred times greater than steel, so it's possible," Matthew Carney'iui Australian ABC said Yoji Ishikawa, Obayashi researcher and development manager.
But the major obstacle to the efforts made sufficiently long nanotubes to reach space, because what is Obayashi Corporation recognizes able to create only 3 cm long carbon nanotubes. Researchers across Japan trying to dramatically increase the length of this - they even organizes annual competitions of the overall settlement of the problem, notify the ABC Carney
"We believe that 2030 is already able to do this," said Ishikawa.
Even if the cables are not yet available, Kanagawa University in Japan are already working on robotic machines are able to get on 96 000 kilometers into space - about a quarter of the distance to the Moon. So far, it is planned that the machine at one time to be able to raise the space for 30 people.
The lift to complete the expensive and unreliable, the use of earth based missiles - Carney reports that if the reusable Space Shuttle lift one kilogram into space costs about $ 22,000, the space elevator could do about 200 $.
Of course, further exploration of the solar system and continue to be used in missiles, but allow them to be in the orbit of the platform, thereby reducing the grip of Earth's gravity to liberate the necessary fuel.
Elevator is also open to cheaper space tourism prospects. While this is an exciting statement yet clearly a lot to be done, and Obayashi is not going to try to do it alone.
"I do not think that one company can do this, such a large project will require the performance of the international organizations," said Ishikawa.
In the past, competition has accelerated the study of space, so we think would be nice to see co-operation in the same.
