Earth-Based Space Elevator Research And Technology Development
- Paper number
IAC-06-D4.2.02
- Author
Mr. David Smitherman, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), United States
- Year
2006
- Abstract
An earth-based space elevator is a tether structure extending through geosynchronous orbit (GEO) to the surface of the earth. Its center of mass is in GEO such that it orbits the earth in sync with the earth’s rotation. From 2004 to 2006, the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center and the Institute for Scientific Research, Inc., (ISR) worked under a cooperative agreement to research the feasibility of an earth-based space elevator, including the identification of critical technologies and operational issues. This paper presents an overview of the key findings from this 2-year study effort between NASA and ISR, and makes recommendations for future space elevator technology development efforts. In conclusion, the most critical problem for earth-based space elevators is the successful development of ultra high strength carbon nanotube reinforced composites for tether construction in the 100GPa range. All other issues appear to have manageable operational, technological, or engineering design solutions.
- Abstract document