A Canadian space applications company has been awarded a patent for 20km-long ‘space elevator’ that will help propel astronauts into orbit of the Earth. At over 20 times the size of the largest skyscraper, the top of the pneumatic tower would act as a staging point for high-altitude planes.
“Astronauts would ascend to 20km by electrical elevator. From the top of the tower, space planes will launch in a single stage to orbit, returning to the top of the tower for refueling and reflight,” Dr Brendan Quine, the inventor of the space elevator, said.
The tower will be constructed from a series of segmented, pneumatically pressurised cells, filled with gas and connected by cables, surrounding a shaft through which the electric elevator will travel. Cargo elevators can also be propelled across the exterior surface of the tower.
Caroline Roberts, President and CEO of Thoth Technology, the company awarded the patent, is excited about the endeavour, believing that it will usher in a new era of space travel and transportation. “Landing on a barge at sea level is a great demonstration,” she said, “but landing at 12 miles (20km) above sea level will make space flight more like taking a passenger jet.
Of course, a patent is one thing, actually being able to pull it off… well, we’ll have to wait and see if this idea gets off the ground.
Thank you The Guardian for providing us with this information.
Does anyone else think if this thing was created there would massive interest from the extreme sports people?
Imagine diving from the top of that 12 mile high tower, or startrek voyager style extreme high altitude leaping from the back of a “shuttle” in this case a “space plane” or what ever.
I think so.
I hate to be “That guy” but they did the whole space jump from a shuttle craft in the first reboot movie, I don’t think any of Voyagers crew did, hell Janeway wouldn’t allow it :/ Sorry :/ The trekkie in me couldn’t resist 🙁
Yes they did, but it was definitely featured in one of the series too, im sure it was Tores in the holodeck on voyager, trying to push her self. I cant remember the episode number or name of the top of my head.
Im currently re watching voyager so, i will know soon enough.
And now the secret is out!who need space ship when you got an elevator
That is really awesome technology! That is why NASA and other companies need to save money. Buy rocket and fuel for rockets are waste a lot of money.
Electric will doing great job to send things and humans in space elevator without rocket and fuel are very safe!