Space ElevatorsSpace Elevators

MOHAMMED FAZIL CHALILMOHAMMED FAZIL CHALIL Contact: +919947117403Contact: +919947117403

05/01/2305/01/23 11engfazil92@gmail.comengfazil92@gmail.com

Pros and ConsPros and Cons

BenefitsBenefits Cheaper space travelCheaper space travel Allows for many more trips into spaceAllows for many more trips into space

ProblemsProblems Requires a very strong and light materialRequires a very strong and light material Will be costly to buildWill be costly to build

What is a Space Elevator?What is a Space Elevator?

Rope attached to the Earth near the Rope attached to the Earth near the equator which extends directly into space equator which extends directly into space and is attached to a small counterweight in and is attached to a small counterweight in geostationary orbitgeostationary orbit

Will be able to transfer materials and Will be able to transfer materials and eventually humans into space for much eventually humans into space for much cheaper than it costs nowcheaper than it costs now

Why Does the Tether Stay Up?Why Does the Tether Stay Up? Because the force of Because the force of

gravity at the bottom gravity at the bottom and the and the upward/outward upward/outward centrifugal force at centrifugal force at the top compete the top compete keeping the rope tautkeeping the rope taut

The PlatformThe Platform

Will be placed along the equator so it will Will be placed along the equator so it will be located in the same place in the sky for be located in the same place in the sky for ground observersground observers

Built on a ship so it can be movedBuilt on a ship so it can be moved

The TetherThe Tether

Will be made of 22,000 mile long carbon Will be made of 22,000 mile long carbon nanotube strands because it is currently nanotube strands because it is currently the only option which has the proper the only option which has the proper strength and is light enoughstrength and is light enough

Will need to be wider at geosynchronous Will need to be wider at geosynchronous altitude where it will experience the most altitude where it will experience the most stress and taper down as it approaches stress and taper down as it approaches earthearth

The ClimberThe Climber

It will be powered by lasers and solar It will be powered by lasers and solar powerpower

It is estimated that the climb will take It is estimated that the climb will take about 5 daysabout 5 days

ClimberClimber

CounterweightCounterweight

Captured asteroidCaptured asteroid Space station above geostationary orbitSpace station above geostationary orbit

BenefitsBenefits

Currently, the cost to launch a shuttle is Currently, the cost to launch a shuttle is about $10,000/lbabout $10,000/lb

Mechanical lifters attached to cable could Mechanical lifters attached to cable could carry cargo up to space for about $100 to carry cargo up to space for about $100 to $400 per pound$400 per pound

Elevator vs. RocketElevator vs. Rocket

While rockets will undoubtedly improve While rockets will undoubtedly improve greatly in efficiency there is a limit to how greatly in efficiency there is a limit to how efficient they can becomeefficient they can become

The elevator will be the next stepThe elevator will be the next step

Space tourismSpace tourism

A space elevator could help many people A space elevator could help many people realize their dream of traveling into spacerealize their dream of traveling into space

Problems with the elevatorProblems with the elevator

Will require a strong material such as Will require a strong material such as carbon nanotubes which we don’t currently carbon nanotubes which we don’t currently possess the ability to form into a long possess the ability to form into a long enough tetherenough tether

Will the public be convinced it is a good Will the public be convinced it is a good ideaidea

Cost to build itCost to build it

The space elevator will be the longest The space elevator will be the longest structure ever built but it will be simplestructure ever built but it will be simple

Estimated cost to build the space elevator is Estimated cost to build the space elevator is about $10 billionabout $10 billion

Approximate cost of building a space shuttle Approximate cost of building a space shuttle is about 1.7 billion and it costs about $450 is about 1.7 billion and it costs about $450 million per missionmillion per mission

Endeavor completed 25 missions before Endeavor completed 25 missions before being retiredbeing retired

ThothXThothX

ThothXThothXThoth Technology has filed a patent for a 20-kilometre-tall Thoth Technology has filed a patent for a 20-kilometre-tall

platform from which spacecraft could be launched. Here platform from which spacecraft could be launched. Here are five things to know about the Pembroke, Ont. are five things to know about the Pembroke, Ont. company’s tower, dubbed ‘ThothX’:company’s tower, dubbed ‘ThothX’:

1: By building the elevator to only 20 kilometres, the tower would sit in the 1: By building the elevator to only 20 kilometres, the tower would sit in the stratosphere rather than extending into geostationary orbit, where stratosphere rather than extending into geostationary orbit, where satellites fly, which is around 25,406 kilometres up.satellites fly, which is around 25,406 kilometres up.

2:2: From the top of the lift, spacecraft would launch in a single stage to From the top of the lift, spacecraft would launch in a single stage to orbit, returning to the top for refuelling. The tower would be inflatable, orbit, returning to the top for refuelling. The tower would be inflatable, made with reinforced segments and topped with a runway from which made with reinforced segments and topped with a runway from which satellite payloads could be launched. It would stay upright using satellite payloads could be launched. It would stay upright using complex arrangements of flywheels to compensate for bending.complex arrangements of flywheels to compensate for bending.

3:3: Cargo would be transported to the top Cargo would be transported to the top by pressurized cars travelling up the inner by pressurized cars travelling up the inner core or climbing the outside like a funicular core or climbing the outside like a funicular railway.railway.

4:4: Rockets are incredibly inefficient Rockets are incredibly inefficient because they need huge amounts of because they need huge amounts of power to get off the ground. Thoth power to get off the ground. Thoth estimates the lift would cut the cost ofestimates the lift would cut the cost of

space flight by about one-third. The tower space flight by about one-third. The tower could also be used for scientific research, could also be used for scientific research, communications and energy generation communications and energy generation via wind turbines.via wind turbines.

5:5: The elevator is designed to withstand The elevator is designed to withstand the force of a Category 5 hurricane.the force of a Category 5 hurricane.

Would it be Safe?Would it be Safe?

Space debrisSpace debris Cable snapsCable snaps StormsStorms TerrorismTerrorism

ConclusionConclusion The future of space travelThe future of space travel Would set us on the path towards expanding our Would set us on the path towards expanding our

space exploration to places might never reach space exploration to places might never reach relying solely on rocketsrelying solely on rockets

Philip Ragan, co-author of the book "Leaving the Philip Ragan, co-author of the book "Leaving the Planet by Space Elevator", states that "The first Planet by Space Elevator", states that "The first country to deploy a space elevator will have a 95 country to deploy a space elevator will have a 95 percent cost advantage and could potentially percent cost advantage and could potentially control all space activities." control all space activities."

Parting WordsParting Words

““We put more effort into getting efficient at We put more effort into getting efficient at what we know how to do than into learning what we know how to do than into learning how to do new things. It's almost as if how to do new things. It's almost as if we're content that as a civilization we've we're content that as a civilization we've arrived at our final destination and all that arrived at our final destination and all that needs to be done is get comfortable. needs to be done is get comfortable. Judging by history, this is almost a sure Judging by history, this is almost a sure sign of the beginning of decay.”sign of the beginning of decay.”

ReferencesReferences

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/space/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/space/space-elevator.htmlspace-elevator.html

http://www.howstuffworks.com/space-http://www.howstuffworks.com/space-elevator.htmelevator.htm

http://www.spaceward.org/elevatorhttp://www.spaceward.org/elevator http://phys.org/news151938445.htmlhttp://phys.org/news151938445.html http://nextbigfuture.com/2009/01/http://nextbigfuture.com/2009/01/

cambridge-making-carbon-nanotubes.htmlcambridge-making-carbon-nanotubes.html

THANK YOU!