The Space Elevator

The Space Elevator
Author: Bradley C. Edwards
Publisher:
Total Pages: 380
Release: 2002
Genre: Science
ISBN:

The authors take the reader through the history of the concept, technical design and economic practicalities of building an elevator to space, and, ultimately, the implications of what such a low cost transportation system would mean to society. Based on three years of NASA-funded studies and written for the technically literate layperson, Edwards and Westling discuss the recent technological advances that now make the space elevator feasible. They conclude by addressing the effects that the space elevator could have on mankind's future from communications and energy to colonizing space.

Space Tethers and Space Elevators

Space Tethers and Space Elevators
Author: Michel van Pelt
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 219
Release: 2009-06-12
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 0387765565

Michel van Pelt explains for the first time the principle of space tethers: what they are and how they can be used in space. He introduces non-technical space enthusiasts to the various possibilities and feasibility of space tethers including the technological challenges and potential benefits. He illustrates how, because of their inherent simplicity, space tethers have the potential to make space travel much cheaper, while ongoing advances in tether material technology may make even seemingly far-fetched ideas a reality in the not too distant future.

Space Elevators: A History

Space Elevators: A History
Author: David Raitt
Publisher: Lulu.com
Total Pages: 145
Release: 2017-03-07
Genre: History
ISBN: 1365806715

Under the editorship of David Raitt, this timely book brings together for the first time the record of people, places, developments and activities, in fiction and in fact, of the space elevator - a 100,000 km long, meter wide, ribbon reaching up from the Earth and into space along which robotic climbers that will travel to bring payloads into orbit at a fraction of the price of rocket launches. The chapters in the book cover the early pioneers who dreamt up the concept initially some 120 years ago; the work of modern day scientists and engineers who have developed the concept into doable plans; how the concept has been portrayed in novels, films and art; the conferences at which interested people could present and discuss their work and ideas; the global community that has grown up around space elevators and the competition challenges that have been held; and what the future may hold.

Space Elevators

Space Elevators
Author: NASA
Publisher:
Total Pages: 48
Release: 2006-03-01
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 9781410225511

What is a space elevator? A space elevator is a physical connection from the surface of the Earth to a geostationary Earth orbit (GEO) above the Earth .35,786 km in altitude. Its center of mass is at the geostationary point such that it has a 24-hr orbit and stays over the same point above the equator as the Earth rotates on its axis. The vision is that a space elevator would be utilized as a transportation and utility system for moving people, payloads, power, and gases between the surface of the Earth and space. It makes the physical connection from Earth to space in the same way a bridge connects two cities across a body of water. The Earth to GEO space elevator is not feasible today, but could be an important concept for the future development of space in the latter part of the 21st century. It has the potential to provide mass transportation to space in the same way highways, railroads, power lines, and pipelines provide mass transportation across the Earth's surface. The low energy requirements for moving payloads up and down the elevator could make it possible to achieve cost to orbit

Leaving the Planet by Space Elevator

Leaving the Planet by Space Elevator
Author: Philip Ragan
Publisher:
Total Pages: 260
Release: 2006-10-07
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9781430300069

An easy guide to the most exciting development in space travel since the rocket. Stripped of the technical jargon, this is a laymans guide to the breathtaking developments surrounding the space elevator: a plan to string a 100,000 km from Earth to space, revolutionising space access.

Today's Space Elevator

Today's Space Elevator
Author: Peter Swan
Publisher: Lulu.com
Total Pages: 122
Release: 2019-09-22
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 035993496X

In the last year, the International Space Elevator Consortium assessed that basic technological needs can be met with current capabilities: and, each segment of the Space Elevator Transportation System is ready for engineering validation. Because of the availability of a new material as a potential Space Elevator tether, the community strongly believes that a Space Elevator will be initiated in the near term. Included in the book is a series of appendices that are tremendous references to the status of the space elevator today. Included are a lexicon of space elevator terms, over 750 references in the bibliography, short descriptions of eight ISEC year-long studies and two IAA 4-year studies on space elevators, as well as a summary of over 20 Architectural Notes covering the development of space elevator technologies.

Space Elevator Architecture and Roadmaps

Space Elevator Architecture and Roadmaps
Author: Michael "FItzer" Fitzgerald
Publisher: Lulu.com
Total Pages: 99
Release: 2015-04-22
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1329087178

The International Space Elevator Consortium has conducted a year-long study addressing the issues associated with how to start the development of space elevators. This report is the result. The process for developing an architecture for a new system of systems has many steps. Each step leads to a technological roadmap leading to a mature engineering structure. Five segment roadmaps are developed: Tether Climber, Tether, Marine Node, Apex Anchor and Headquarters Primary Operations Center. The initial set of challenges for each segment is established. These will fuel a series of demonstrations pushing the development team to Culminating Demo's that resolves all those challenges. Then, Implementation Plans will be written and executed resulting in an Initial Operational Capability (IOC). This study is an excellent step in the ongoing analysis of the technological feasibility of space elevators.

Design Considerations for the Multi-stage Space Elevator

Design Considerations for the Multi-stage Space Elevator
Author: John Knapman
Publisher: Lulu.com
Total Pages: 102
Release: 2019-01-13
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 0359332323

The multi-stage space elevator offers an alternative to the single-ribbon design, making it possible to construct the elevator with present-day materials. Details of the multi-stage design and technology are presented, including stability calculations, prototype planning and cost estimates.

Design Considerations for Space Elevator Tether Climbers

Design Considerations for Space Elevator Tether Climbers
Author: Cathy Swan
Publisher: Lulu.com
Total Pages: 93
Release: 2014-04-13
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1312099828

The subject selected for this 2013 study is the Space Elevator Tether Climber. The objective of the one year study was to survey current concepts and technologies related to tether climbers, identify critical issues, questions, and concerns, assess their impact on the development of space elevators, and project towards the future. The following are a few of the conclusions: - The study used the concept of "constant power" as a baseline because of its ability to lower design requirements on the tether climber. - The mass breakout of 6 MT for a climber and 14 MT for customer payloads seems feasible. The estimate is that with a travel time of one week to GEO seven tether climbers can be on a tether simultaneously. - The communication architecture should be integrated into the space elevator infrastructure and nodal layout. - Solar power, as the sole source, appears achievable. - The use of laser power as the sole source also seems achievable.

Today's Space Elevator Assured Survivability Approach for Space Debris

Today's Space Elevator Assured Survivability Approach for Space Debris
Author: Peter Swan
Publisher: Lulu.com
Total Pages: 64
Release: 2020-02-29
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1678181919

This study was designed to take the concept of Space Elevators and answer some questions relative to space debris. The team built upon the 2010 study on the topic and addressed many other issues to include: - The probabilities of orbital conjunctions between a space elevator and debris in Low Earth Orbit, Geo Earth Orbit, and Medium Earth Orbit. - The growth rate of space debris as it threatens operational space elevator (2010, 2019, 2030)? - Mitigation of risk for the space community through design, policies, operations, and lowering the threat. This year's study topic focused upon calculations for potential conjunction probabilities from densities of debris for 2010, 2019, and 2030. ""Space debris mitigation is an engineering problem with definable quantities such as density of debris and lengths/widths of targets. With proper knowledge and good operational procedures, the threat of space debris is not a show-stopper. However, mitigation approaches must be accepted and implemented robustly.""