The Future of Space Travel: Could a Giant Space Elevator Start Lifting Tourists 22,000 Miles Above Earth by 2050?
SPACE tourists could be lifted 22,000 miles above Earth – at a touch of an elevator button. The bonkers US$100-billion giant space elevator project could start hoisting people to Mars by 2050, says its Japanese designers.
The Revolutionary Space Elevator Concept
“Instead of taking six to eight months to reach Mars, scientists have estimated a space elevator could get us there in three to four months or even as quickly as 40 days,” reported Business Insider. The idea has been described as “kooky,” technically challenging, and risky given that its tether would have to be under enough tension to be unaffected by extreme weather events, warned a scientist.
Obayashi Corporation, the firm behind iconic buildings such as the 2,080-ft high Tokyo Skytree tower, has proposed building the “technically feasible” space elevator. It would “bridge the gap between Earth and space via a cable, allowing people to travel to and from space as easily as if they were riding a train,” the firm said.
Taking Space Aspiration to New Heights
Obayashi Corporation’s project team announced its space elevator construction concept 14 years ago. However, in an update on the project, Business Insider said yesterday the firm confirmed it was pushing ahead with its plans.
Obayashi is currently “engaged in research and development, rough design, partnership building, and promotion,” said its tech expert, Yoji Ishikawa. “We need partnerships, we need different industries; of course, raising funds is very essential,” he added.
The idea is to tether the elevator to an Earth port – the elevator’s point of arrival and departure, said Obayashi in 2014. This structure would “float on the sea at the equator, while a terminal will be placed in a geostationary orbit about 36,000 km above Earth,” the firm has proposed. The Earth port would be accessed by an undersea tunnel.
Realizing the Space Elevator Dream
“The concept has been deemed feasible from a construction standpoint, and it is now in the process of actually being developed,” stated Obayashi. The firm envisions a journey that begins at the Earth Port and includes facilities for anchoring the cable of the space elevator to the Earth, adjusting cable tension, and transporting people and cargo during construction.
With this, traveling from Earth to space will become a reality for ordinary people.
Unveiling the Space Exploration Gateway
Obayashi’s ambitious plan includes installing a space solar power system near a geostationary orbit station to transmit electrical energy back to Earth. Visitors would enjoy moving in zero gravity inside the station at 36,000 km above the Earth.
Furthermore, the station would serve as a Solar System exploration gateway, sending spacecraft out to extract resources from planets and other parts of the solar system. Obayashi is currently testing a long cable that will connect Earth to the geostationary orbit and beyond.
Overcoming Technical Challenges
The firm aims to have the space elevator operational by 2050, featuring a 96,000 km carbon nanotube cable. It would take roughly two decades to construct the cable, one end of which would be fixed to the Earth’s surface. Technical challenges related to the tether material have so far prevented the space elevator from advancing past the design stage.
Christian Johnson believes that the space elevator could provide a cost-effective alternative to traditional rocket launches. He emphasizes the need for overcoming technical hurdles, including the impact of severe weather events that could potentially damage the tether.
The Evolution of Space Travel
While the space elevator concept faces numerous challenges, including tether durability and construction complexity, its realization could revolutionize space travel, offering a safer and more cost-effective mode of transport for both tourists and cargo. The journey towards making this concept a reality represents a significant milestone in humanity’s quest to explore the cosmos.