Post by Niemmy on Sept 24, 2008 6:42:05 GMT -5
Japan is planning to spend $9 billion on a massive space elevator to lift people and objects into orbit.
Humans have always looked to the heavens, and now Japan is helping fulfil a dream that has been a favourite with science fiction writers and NASA base boffins for years.
Blasting off into space is the childhood dream of many people, but the reality is that very few people will ever do it.
The latest space tourist knows how hard it is.
Richard Garriott is the son of a NASA astronaut who wanted to follow in his father's footsteps, but he was told his eyesight was not good enough.
"While at first, of course, I was quite sad, I very quickly determined that I would not take no for answer," he said.
Money has made Mr Garriott's dream possible. The computer game designer has paid the Russian space program $US30 million for his seat on the Soyuz rocket.
Universities and companies had been diverted towards realising the ambitious dream.
The space elevator technology is at least 20 years away, and it should get easier and much cheaper in the future.
Sky and Space magazine editor Dave Reneke is thrilled that Japan is investing time and money into a space elevator project.
"We're looking at a brand new industry that's at the stage where probably aeroplane flight was in 1905," he said.
"The idea has been touted for a while, we just don't have the technology to put a carriage... or some sort of a control device where people can sit in and put them up into space by a ribbon.
We need new technology and they are working on that right now."
NASA is also looking at the idea in which a carbon-fibre ribbon, perhaps 100 kilometres long, would be anchored to the Earth underneath an ocean.
Mr Reneke says it would be attached to an orbiting platform, such as a space station.
"The fact that the thing is circling the Earth means that it's centrifugal force is trying to throw it out and that will keep that cable taut," he said.
"Of course there are problems involved with that - I hope something doesn't run into it. I'd imagine birds hitting it too, and there are certain safety factors and issues that have got to be looked at in the future.
"But gee, it's a great idea and a very cost-effective way of getting people and or cargo up into space."
The carbon fibre needed is produced through the emerging science of nanotechnology, and it's not yet done on the scale needed to create such a long tether.
It is thought the trip into space would be a long one.
"Can you imagine here is a little box car attached to this ribbon, that after a few days perhaps, would take that long to get there?" Mr Reneke said.
"If you're saving millions and millions of dollars, you're not going to worry about a few days' wait, it could take up to a week."
But the common elevator is the modern nightmare.
"You're going be bored and we're going to be sitting around a little elevator. Can you imagine half a dozen people in a confined space? That is what you're getting at," Mr Reneke said.
"You've got to look at the fact of where you're going and what it's going to be like when you get there.
"I think we could get used to that. I would if I knew that I was going to end up in orbit, it would be great."
_Based on a story by Karen Barlow first aired on AM_
Humans have always looked to the heavens, and now Japan is helping fulfil a dream that has been a favourite with science fiction writers and NASA base boffins for years.
Blasting off into space is the childhood dream of many people, but the reality is that very few people will ever do it.
The latest space tourist knows how hard it is.
Richard Garriott is the son of a NASA astronaut who wanted to follow in his father's footsteps, but he was told his eyesight was not good enough.
"While at first, of course, I was quite sad, I very quickly determined that I would not take no for answer," he said.
Money has made Mr Garriott's dream possible. The computer game designer has paid the Russian space program $US30 million for his seat on the Soyuz rocket.
Universities and companies had been diverted towards realising the ambitious dream.
The space elevator technology is at least 20 years away, and it should get easier and much cheaper in the future.
Sky and Space magazine editor Dave Reneke is thrilled that Japan is investing time and money into a space elevator project.
"We're looking at a brand new industry that's at the stage where probably aeroplane flight was in 1905," he said.
"The idea has been touted for a while, we just don't have the technology to put a carriage... or some sort of a control device where people can sit in and put them up into space by a ribbon.
We need new technology and they are working on that right now."
NASA is also looking at the idea in which a carbon-fibre ribbon, perhaps 100 kilometres long, would be anchored to the Earth underneath an ocean.
Mr Reneke says it would be attached to an orbiting platform, such as a space station.
"The fact that the thing is circling the Earth means that it's centrifugal force is trying to throw it out and that will keep that cable taut," he said.
"Of course there are problems involved with that - I hope something doesn't run into it. I'd imagine birds hitting it too, and there are certain safety factors and issues that have got to be looked at in the future.
"But gee, it's a great idea and a very cost-effective way of getting people and or cargo up into space."
The carbon fibre needed is produced through the emerging science of nanotechnology, and it's not yet done on the scale needed to create such a long tether.
It is thought the trip into space would be a long one.
"Can you imagine here is a little box car attached to this ribbon, that after a few days perhaps, would take that long to get there?" Mr Reneke said.
"If you're saving millions and millions of dollars, you're not going to worry about a few days' wait, it could take up to a week."
But the common elevator is the modern nightmare.
"You're going be bored and we're going to be sitting around a little elevator. Can you imagine half a dozen people in a confined space? That is what you're getting at," Mr Reneke said.
"You've got to look at the fact of where you're going and what it's going to be like when you get there.
"I think we could get used to that. I would if I knew that I was going to end up in orbit, it would be great."
_Based on a story by Karen Barlow first aired on AM_