A Panama Canal Going Up?
Here’s an emerging sci-fi technology that’s beginning to shed some of its giggle factor — enough so that a year ago last fall, Arthur C. Clarke felt comfortable saying the following in a London Times column:
The space elevator was the central theme in my 1978 science-fiction novel The Fountains of Paradise (soon to be a Hollywood movie). When I wrote it, I considered it little more than a fascinating thought experiment. At that time, the only material from which it could be built — diamond — was not readily available in sufficient megaton quantities. This situation has now changed, with the discovery of the third form of carbon, C60, and its relatives, the Buckminsterfullerenes.
…As its most enthusiastic promoter, I am often asked when I think the first space elevator might be built. My answer has always been: about 50 years after everyone has stopped laughing. Maybe I should now revise it to 25 years.
Nova aired this story last month (Jan 9th) reporting some of the latest developments in the field. IEEE Spectrum published a feature article on it here. Actually building a space elevator today remains a feat for the fanciful, perhaps. But if this thing even remotely starts to materialize, watch out. The nation that moves first on such a lifting system could accrue enormous security and economic advantages, advantages that may well be insurmountable for those that choose to stand to the side. As such, how this story unfolds — if it does — has significant geo- and astrostrategic implications. Is it too early to begin considering some of them? Probably not.
March 28th, 2007 at 10:05 am
Can I buy carbon credits here? My methane output has been atrocious as of late.
March 21st, 2007 at 2:33 am
… and tell that little girl if she doesn’t stop it her face will stay like that.
March 21st, 2007 at 2:31 am
I take it seriously enough that I’m focusing my freelance journalism career on it. I don’t know who’s going to build the first space elevator but I know who’s going to build the first media outlet about the space elevator – me.
Watch for the Space Elevator Journal to move from being a blog to being a full-blown website in the near future. ASAP after the Second Biennial Space Elevator Conference in Albuquerque next week.
Patrick Boake reporting live from cyberspace for the Space Elevator Journal
February 16th, 2007 at 7:58 pm
Maybe? The first operator will have an advantage but no monopoly on space elevators. If it’s a strict matter of cost then it might make sense to partner with the existing company instead of compete. If the project is seen as a prestige item or built for reasons of national security .. cost isn’t the determining factor there.
As such, how this story unfolds — if it does — has significant geo- and astrostrategic implications. Is it too early to begin considering some of them? Probably not.
We don’t think so – our goal is to be ‘the’ experts on the matter so when (or if) this happens .. why there we’ll be. Plans ready, legal and political questions framed and so forth.
Brian Dunbar
Liftport