5 star accommodations… in space?
Techie Day hopes that creating some hotels in space will help jump-start the Space Elevator project. Personally, I think it will be the other way around…
3 comments April 30th, 2006
Archive for April, 2006
Space Stars Will Shine at 25th Annual International Space Development Conference in Los Angeles
SpaceRef.com announcement of the upcoming 25th Annual International Space Development Conference. One of the exhibits will be a “thirty-foot space elevator mockup”.
1 comment April 30th, 2006
Descolgándose en Marte
It’s a good thing that “Space Elevator” is the same in Spanish as it is in English, or I would have never known that this Spanish-language blog had mentioned it. The blog entry is talking about the Mars Rovers and, at the end, mentions a Space Elevator.
7 comments April 30th, 2006
Space Law
Though this very interesting video does not specifically mention the Space Elevator, the issues it brings up will certainly come into play when the Elevator is built.
Add comment April 30th, 2006
Las Vegas City Life
At ZenArchery.com, the author despairs that civilization will be unable or unwilling to build a Space Elevator. Brian Dunbar, from LiftPort, posts his disagreement with the assessment.
3 comments April 29th, 2006
Expo showcases innovative products
In this Stanford Daily review of the Cool Products Expo, the Spaceward Foundation and “plans to build a Space Elevator” are briefly mentioned.
Add comment April 28th, 2006
Future space
Over at L2si, the following prediction is made:
“Shortly after the space elevator opens, a new sport will be introduced — extreme base jumping. Daredevils will leap from the structure at some point above the atmostphere wearing (highly) heat resistant pressurized suits and a parachute.”
3 comments April 23rd, 2006
Looking back from 2057
Peter Blue speculates that the first 100 years of the Space Age will have bookends of Sputnik and the Space Elevator…
Add comment April 21st, 2006
Top 10 Ways To Destroy Planet Earth
If you’re into theorizing how our Planet can be destroyed, do I have a webpage for you. The Space Elevator is used in Method #4.
Add comment April 21st, 2006
Space Elevator Dreams
Over at the Steelsphere.com blog, the author speculates on what a tourist trip on a Space Elevator might be like…
Add comment April 21st, 2006
Another skeptic…
I just ran across this interesting thread, discussing the possibilty (or not) of a Space Elevator. One of the contributors, an “nhughes1″ (who states that he is a long-time Aerospace Engineer) declares that a Space Elevator is flatly impossible. The last post on the thread is nearly 9 months old.
I’m not a Physics major, so I can’t comment on his calculations. I wish I knew his email address - I’d refer him to the Edwards / Westling book and ask him for his comments.
2 comments April 21st, 2006
Jijaki Space Elevator
I don’t know when this webpage was created, but in it, SF Writer Robert J. Sawyer displays a table of “Apparent gravity in cab going up the Jijaki space elevator, assuming the cab is rising at a constant speed of 110 km/h”
Add comment April 21st, 2006
The problem with a Space Elevator is…
The entry is dated July 7th, 2004 but I just stumbled across it. I think it’s funny - make sure your speakers are on…
1 comment April 20th, 2006
Spacetrip - Christmas Present of the Year
Blogger Pontus Edenberg speculates on Christmas presents in the year 2030, with a Spacetrip at the top of the list. Space elevators, of course, will play their part…
Add comment April 20th, 2006
Building a Space Elevator
Blogger Bill Canis attends the Stanford Cool Products Expo and notes that the very first item on their list of exhibits is a Space Elevator. He writes about it here.
Add comment April 20th, 2006
Five NASA Centennial Challenges Competitions Open For Registration
Official NASA announcement of the opening of registration for the Beam Power and Tether competitions (as well as 3 other competitions).
Add comment April 19th, 2006
Anchoring the Space Elevator in the Atlantic Ocean?
As mentioned in the LiftPort April, 2006 Technical Newsletter, Jasper Bouwmeester, an Aerospace Engineering student in the Netherlands, will be interning at LiftPort this summer. The Newsletter describes a Space Elevator concept project that Jasper and his team did, with one of their conclusions being that the Space Elevator should be anchored in the Atlantic Ocean. The Newsletter contains a link to the paper created - you can also find it here. It’s well worth the read.
11 comments April 17th, 2006
Google Earth Space Elevator
I’ve not played around with the Google Earth Tool (though my 13-year old son downloaded it and creeped out my wife by being able to zoom into our house), but now I have a reason to. Over at GoogleEarthBlog, FrankTaylor has posted a 3D Space Elevator model, GoogleEarth ready. Very cool.
As soon as I can get my son to quit modding up his XBOX (again), maybe he can take pity on me and show me how to use this.
1 comment April 17th, 2006
Being sharp with Robert
The Devil’s Kitchen takes comfort from LiftPort’s efforts to build a Space Elevator and LiftPort’s Brian Dunbar gives a fine rationale for just getting on with it…
Add comment April 17th, 2006
Da Vinci Exhibit Opening At Science And Industry
CBS2Chicago.com reports that an exhibit honoring the life and works of Leonardo Da Vinci has opened at Chicago’s Museum of Science & Industry. It’s a 4-part exhibit; the fourth part highlights “40 modern Leonardo’s” with one of them being Brad Edwards. Tickets are $21.00 and the exhibit is open until September 4th.
The Museum of Science & Industry is a cool place, but has gotten a bit dated as of late. They’ve been working to update their exhibits and, as a Chicago-area resident, I’m looking forward to seeing this one.
Add comment April 16th, 2006
Earlier mention of Rep. Mollohan and ISR
While perusing the July, 2004 issue of Discover Magazine, I found this paragraph.
“The office of the world’s leading space elevator designer is across the street from the Foxx Pawn Shop in the somewhat frayed downtown of Fairmont, West Virginia. The little mining community of 19,000—hit hard by the 1990 Clean Air Act, which made the local sulfurous coal a tough sell—aims to become a high-tech hub, helped by lashings of funds from Congressman Alan Mollohan, a ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee. Edwards is director of research for the Institute for Scientific Research, a four-year-old technology development house headquartered here in a new, cool, rather spartan office building. The space elevator is the most prominent of a dozen projects on the institute’s agenda.”
This is the earliest mention I’ve found, so far, of Rep. Mollohan’s funding of ISR.
Add comment April 16th, 2006
Affordable to the Individual Space Flight
This web site has evidently been in existence for some time (since 1998?), but I just stumbled across it today. It purports to describe a concept where with “today’s technology”, humanity could build a system which would make space flight much more affordable. The key concept is a “Earth Orbiting Elevator”, a skyhook. The author doesn’t describe what the “Elevator” would be made of, but it’s an interesting site nonetheless.
2 comments April 16th, 2006
www.aboutwater.com Space Elevator page
I just found this website; it seems to be an overview and status report (a bit outdated) on Space Elevator technology and development.
1 comment April 16th, 2006
Michael Laine interviewed on the Space Show
On Friday, LiftPort CEO Michael Laine was interviewed on The Space Show. This was, I believe, Mr. Laine’s 3rd interview on this show and is well worth your time to listen to. You can find the interview here.
Add comment April 16th, 2006
LiftPort April, 2006 Technical Newsletter released
In this issue, LiftPort Research Director Tom Nugent mentions a proposal written by 10 Aerospace Engineering Students in the Netherlands to build a Space Elevator in the Atlantic Ocean. He also reminds us that he will be presenting at the International Space Development Conference in Los Angeles on May 4th. The Newsletter can be found here.
Add comment April 15th, 2006
The space elevator is to send materials out of geo. orbit, what do we really need to send to space?
At answers.Yahoo.com, a question is posted about the potential usefulness of a Space Elevator. Several people weigh in with their ideas.
Add comment April 15th, 2006
Liftport on the Radio
On Friday, April 14th, the President of Liftport, Michael Laine, will be making a return radio appearance on The Space Show with Dr. David Livingston. The show airs from 11:30am to 2:00pm and Mr. Laine will be on at some time during then.
You can listen to The Space Show here.
Add comment April 13th, 2006
MIT Enterprise Forum
The March/April issue of MIT’s Technology Review comments on Brad Edwards appearance and remarks at the recent MIT Enterprise Forum.
Add comment April 10th, 2006
Maybe the NY Times Figured We Wouldn’t Notice
Dennis Byrne, a columnist for the Chicago Sun Times, also has his own blog. In a posting yesterday, he comments on how the NY Times and the Wall Street Journal reported the story of West Virginia Democratic congressman Alan Mollohand and how he’s funded numerous non-profits with taxpayer dollars. One of the non-profits he’s funded is the Institute for Scientific Research (ISR) and, earlier today, I noted a story from another blogger stating that some of the money has been earmarked for Space Elevator development.
I think this story has legs and we’re going to be hearing more about it soon…
3 comments April 10th, 2006
The Bicycle Mechanics
Ashwin Nanjappa at LiveJournal writes approvingly of the NASA Centennial Challenges. Everyone seems in favor of them…
Add comment April 10th, 2006
Earmarking Travel to Disneyland and Space
In the National Center Blog, Amy Ridenour points out that Rep. Alan Mollohan of West Virginia has earmarked Federal Funds to be given to the Institute for Scientific Research (ISR) for research into the construction of the Space Elevator. She’s “anti-earmark” and is unhappy about this.
3 comments April 10th, 2006
WANT TO HELP OUT NASA?
The Amygdala blog opines about NASA’s Centennial Challenges.
Add comment April 10th, 2006
Spaceward Foundation to exhibit at Cool Products Expo 2006 at Stanford Business School
The Spaceward Foundation will be exhibiting “its Space Elevator” at Stanford University’s Business School Cool Products 2006 Expo on April 26th. Details can be found here.
Add comment April 10th, 2006
Stairway to Heaven: Space Elevators, Platinum, and the Hydrogen Economy.
The Space Elevator concept must be gaining traction - it’s now getting politicized. Some weeks ago, James Miller, an Assistant Professor of Economics at Smith College, proposed in his article “Elevating Elephants”, that the Republicans should adopt a campaign plank in support of a Space Elevator. Today at DailyKos, ManFromMiddletown posted an article that discussed energy alternatives and talked in favorable terms about the problems that a Space Elevator could solve. The author refers to the Miller article as coming from the “Dark Side”. He mentions LiftPort and believes that the Space Elevator should be built by an International Coalition.
2 comments April 9th, 2006
My Futurism
Over at Live Journal, Unnamed puts forward his idea on how to colonize space, with Space Elevators playing a central role.
Add comment April 9th, 2006
Marriage of ideas - nuclear waste and space elevators
Catnmus opines about using the Space Elevator to hoist nuclear waste into space.
Add comment April 9th, 2006
Calling Space Elevator Proponents: NASA Offering Prizes For Inventions
At techdirt.com, Joe comments on the NASA Centennial Challenge competitions.
Add comment April 7th, 2006
Hey NASA, we’re going to call it the Vancouver-levator.
Our neighbors to the north lay claim to the Space Elevator. Pretty cheeky, eh? Of course, to paraphrase Robert Heinlein, the laws of physics work for everyone, not just Americans…
Add comment April 7th, 2006
Extra! Extra! SpaceElevatorBlog.com makes the Space Blogroll!
And, today I find out that this blog has been added to Robot Guy’s Space Blogroll. Thanks! And thanks for the work to put the Space Blogroll together.
I’ve added the Space Blogroll to my links and, as soon as I get competent in php, I’ll figure out a way to post it in it’s entirety rather than as just a link.
Add comment April 7th, 2006
A nice gesture…
Today’s LiftPort blog and Brian Dunbar’s personal blog both mention this one. Many thanks.
1 comment April 6th, 2006
Lunar Space Elevator simply isn’t for everyone
Brad Guth speculates that a Lunar Space Elevator may be better than “accomplishing moon landings via mascon roller coaster.” At least that’s what I think he’s saying…
2 comments April 6th, 2006
NASA Needs You! (and you and you and you…)
One Big Mutation also comments on the NY Times story about the NASA Centennial Challenges. This exact same blog entry can also be found at Museum of Mahem, here, in this blog entry from Circle of Tripe, in this blog entry from Darn Tasty and in many others. No, I don’t know why other than the fact that someone seems to have too much time on their hand.
Add comment April 6th, 2006
Distributed Rocket Science
The Cool Blue Blog comments on the NASA Centennial Challenges.
Add comment April 6th, 2006
LiftPort April, 2006 Art Newsletter released
Nyein Aung shows off his latest drawings in this months newsletter. In addition, Joe Julian updates us with some coming events and looks for ideas for some LiftPort-related retail items. The Newsletter can be found here.
Add comment April 6th, 2006
Like to Tinker? NASA’s Looking for You
NY Times article about the NASA Centennial Challenges. Steve Jones, a 2005 and 2006 contestant in the Beam Power Challenge is featured. It’s a good article, but (free) registration is required to read it.
2 comments April 5th, 2006
Space Elevators and the Demise of a Planet
Little known dangers of Space Elevator deployment are discussed here. Once you read this, you will probably never look at the Horse Head Nebula in the same way again.
Add comment April 3rd, 2006
CNT Strength Map
Liftport Blog comment on the recently published paper covering the strength maps of carbon nanotubes.
Add comment April 2nd, 2006
Space Elevator Scoop!
I’ve just learned that the world’s first space elevator is going to be built in Canada. The exclusive scoop is here.
Happy April Fool’s Day…
Add comment April 1st, 2006
