The Space Elevator Reference: LiftPort Makes Progress with Space Elevator Technology

The Space Elevator Reference

Climbers ascend a ribbon, 100,000 km long, strung between an anchor on Earth and a counterweight in space. Connecting Earth and space in a way never before possible, the space elevator will enable us to inexpensively and completely expand our society into space.

This site will serve as a reference tool for those interested in exchanging ideas on the scientific, engineering, economic and policy challenges inherent in constructing the solar system's first space elevator.

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LiftPort Makes Progress with Space Elevator Technology

LiftPort Group Completes Second Round of Tests...: "LiftPort Group Completes Second Round of Tests of Its Space Elevator Technology under FAA Waiver"

It's good to see some progress by a company dedicated to building a Space Elevator. Now if we could only find more seed more for the core technologies needed to make this vision a reality.

From the press release: "In this phase of testing, conducted earlier this month in Arizona, LiftPort successfully launched an observation and communication platform a full mile in the air and maintained it in a stationery position for more than six hours while robotic lifters climbed up and down a ribbon attached to the platform. The platform, a proprietary system that the company has named "HALE" (High Altitude Long Endurance), was secured in place by an arrangement of high altitude balloons, which were also used to launch it. The robotic lifters measured five feet, six inches and climbed to a height of more than 1500 feet, surpassing its last test record by more than 500 feet."

Posted by Marc Boucher on February 13, 2006 8:05 PM | Permalink

Comments

Now if we could only find more seed more for the core technologies needed to make this vision a reality.

Well yes. But please note that having a device that can go up and down reliably is just as important as being able to deliver power to the device or having a ribbon for the device to run on. Having an organization in place that put these pieces together and operate them reliably also runs a distant second but ... people and process matter as well.

Posted by: Brian | February 14, 2006 8:13 AM

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