Construction Firm Aims at Space Elevator in 2050

FYI,

"Construction Firm Aims at Space Elevator in 2050"
The Yomiuri Shimbun
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120221004421.htm

: It may be possible to travel to space in an elevator as early as
: 2050, a major construction company has announced.

: Obayashi Corp., headquartered in Tokyo, on Monday unveiled a
: project to build a gigantic elevator that would transport
: passengers to a station 36,000 kilometers above the Earth.

: For the envisaged project, the company would utilize carbon
: nanotubes, which are 20 times stronger than steel, to produce
: cables for the space elevator.

: The idea of space elevators has been described in several science-
: fiction novels. Obayashi, however, believes it is possible to
: construct one in the real world thanks to carbon nanotubes, which
: were invented in the 1990s, the company said.

: Some other organizations have also been studying the development of
: space elevators, such as the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space
: Administration.

: In Obayashi's project, a cable would be stretched up to
: 96,000 kilometers, or about one-fourth of the distance between the
: Earth and the moon. One end of the cable would be anchored at a
: spaceport on the ground, while the other would be fitted with a
: counterweight.

: The terminal station would house laboratories and living space. The
: car could carry up to 30 people to the station at 200 kilometers
: per hour, which would mean a 7-1/2 day trip to reach the station.
: Magnetic linear motors are one possible means of propulsion for the
: car, according to Obayashi.

: Solar power generation facilities would also be set up around the
: terminal station to transmit power to the ground, the company added.

: Whether carbon nanotubes can be mass-produced economically enough
: and whether various organizations from around the world can work
: together are two key issues facing the development of the space
: elevator, according to the company.

: "At this moment, we cannot estimate the cost for the project," an
: Obayashi official said. "However, we'll try to make steady progress
: so that it won't end just up as simply a dream."

Mark Reiff