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.
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.
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.
Liftport on the Radio
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.
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…
The Bicycle Mechanics
Ashwin Nanjappa at LiveJournal writes approvingly of the NASA Centennial Challenges. Everyone seems in favor of them…
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.
WANT TO HELP OUT NASA?
The Amygdala blog opines about NASA’s Centennial Challenges.
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.
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.
My Futurism
Over at Live Journal, Unnamed puts forward his idea on how to colonize space, with Space Elevators playing a central role.
Marriage of ideas – nuclear waste and space elevators
Catnmus opines about using the Space Elevator to hoist nuclear waste into space.
Calling Space Elevator Proponents: NASA Offering Prizes For Inventions
At techdirt.com, Joe comments on the NASA Centennial Challenge competitions.
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…
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.
A nice gesture…
Today’s LiftPort blog and Brian Dunbar’s personal blog both mention this one. Many thanks.
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…
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.
Distributed Rocket Science
The Cool Blue Blog comments on the NASA Centennial Challenges.
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.
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.
Science time
LogicVersusBlog talks about the Space Elevator here.
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.
CNT Strength Map
Liftport Blog comment on the recently published paper covering the strength maps of carbon nanotubes.
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…
How do you climb into space?
The Starclimber team discusses the new robotics controller they’ve developed in their latest blog post.
LiftPort March, 2005 General Newsletter Released
Liftport’s Executive VP-Media, Joe Julian, gives an update of their HALE platform, their carbon nanotube factory and robotic lifter and also posts a calendar of coming events that LiftPort personnel will be participating in. The Newsletter can be found here.
Delaware Valley Talk
A member of the Starclimber team will be giving a presentation on space elevators and the Starclimber project to the Delaware Valley Amateur Astronomers club.
Verifying the Parabola
The Starclimber team discusses testing the alignment of their parabolic reflector.
Reflector Work
The Starclimber team discusses roughing out their parabolic trough reflector and mentions that they will not be ready for their demo until sometime in April.
Spacescrapers
The Spacescraper blog weighs in on how a Space Elevator will promote the construction of a Spacescraper.
The 62,000-Mile Elevator Ride
LiftPort March, 2006 Technical Newsletter released
In the March Technical Newsletter, LiftPort’s Research Director Tom Nugent writes about “The Lifter Shield: A More Robust Lifter Vehicle.” The Newsletter can be found here.
Moon-Age Nightmare
Proposed: build a skyscraper
At the mensnewsdaily.com blog, Karl Lembke references the proposal for the Republicans to add a plank to their 2006 campaign in support of building a space elevator. Karl notes that Jerry Pournelle has opined that for the cost of the first year’s war in Iraq, the US could have built and launched a solar-power satellite system.
Elevating Elephants
James Miller proposes that the Republicans should add support of a Space Elevator to their 2006 campaign.
Unsolicited Political Advice
Space: The final junkyard
A lengthy article in SFGate.com, the online arm of the San Francisco Chronicle, discusses potential problems that can be caused by space debris. Much of the discussion centers around the danger (real or imagined) that such debris could pose for a space elevator.
LiftPort March, 2006 Art Newsletter released
The “Lead Designer of LiftPort” discusses why he is broke and, incidentally, releases his latest drawings. The Newsletter can be found here.
The Great Space Elevator
Gizmodo says that a Space Elevator would be sexy.
Profits set to soar in outer space
A Business 2.0 article discussing profit generating opportunities in Outer Space. The Space Elevator is mentioned as a technology that would “…reduce orbital freight costs by 98 percent and open up space just as the railroads opened up the Wild West.”
LiftPort February, 2006 Technical Newsletter released
In the Newsletter, LiftPort’s Research Director Tom Nugent discusses “Space Elevator Ribbon: The Elastic Energy Problem.” The Newsletter can be found here.
First Build Progress
The Starclimber team discusses progress and hopes to have their first demo ready at the end of March.
New X-Prize Challenge
The Starclimber team considers looking for new worlds to conquer once this years Space Elevator competition is completed.
SpaceAlumni.com Interview with Bradley Edwards
The SpaceAlumni.com group has recently interviewed Dr. Bradley Edwards. The written transcript of the interview can be found here.
A Small Climb For Man (Space Elevator)
Next Floor, Stratosphere
Public Radio’s Weekend America interviews LiftPort’s CEO, Michael Laine.
LiftPort February, 2006 Art Newsletter released
LiftPort’s artist-in-residence, Nyein Aung, releases his latest creations here.
LiftPort February, 2006 General Newsletter released
In this Issue, LiftPort’s Executive VP – Media, Joe Julian, describes the “shocking” results from their latest test and discusses the chosen theme for the first Lift tickets. The Newsletter can be found here.