Japanese construction giant Obayashi Corporation is taking a significant step towards making the science fiction dream of a “Space Elevator” a reality by 2050. The company is currently testing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) – an incredibly strong and lightweight material – as the building blocks for a 96,000 km-long cable that would connect Earth directly to space.
Rocket fuel to elevator rides? Japan tests Space Elevator!
This ambitious project envisions a revolutionary transportation system. Wheeled lifts, called “Climbers,” would travel up and down the CNT cable, transporting materials and people into space. Construction would begin by delivering materials to low Earth orbit (LEO) using rockets, followed by the gradual assembly of the space elevator itself.
Upon completion, the Space Elevator promises a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly approach to space travel. Estimates suggest launch costs could be reduced to several million yen per launch, a significant decrease compared to traditional rocket launches.
The project goes beyond simply providing easier access to space. Obayashi Corporation also plans to deploy a Space Solar Power System (SSPS) satellite at an altitude of 36,000 km. This satellite would harness the vast amount of solar energy available in space and transmit it wirelessly back to Earth, potentially revolutionizing our energy infrastructure.
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While there are still significant technological hurdles to overcome, Obayashi Corporation’s progress in testing CNTs marks a major step towards the potential realization of this transformative space travel and energy generation concept.
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