Intel Brief: Japan's space elevator
By Cyndi J Lee for ISN
Due to its advanced research in nanotechnology, and its history of breakthrough technological initiatives, Japan will likely be the first nation to develop the capability to construct a space elevator, and is more likely than not to begin construction by 2018.
The Japan Space Elevator Association (JSEA) external pagerecently announced its plans to move ahead with a timeline for designing and constructing the world's first space elevator, which would transport objects from earth to space without the customary shuttle launch. While ambitious, the prospect of constructing a space elevator is appealing because it offers an easier, less expensive method of traveling into space.
There are several key issues to overcome to make a space elevator a possibility. First, engineers must develop the technology to build the physical structures necessary to enable an elevator to travel to space. Current technology is unable to produce cable material strong and lightweight enough to haul elevator cars from earth to space. Based on likely continued technological advances and current estimates of the types of material needed, nanotechnology is likely to advance to the point of producing the desired material.
Nanotechnology researchers experienced a external pagebreakthrough in 1991 when Japanese physicist Sumio Iijima first observed carbon nanotubes at the NEC Laboratory in Tsukuba, Japan. Carbon nanotubes are macromolecules consisting of a hexagonal lattice of carbon molecules rolled into a long, thin cylinder. Due to the unique structure, the inter-molecular forces provide carbon nanotubes with stiffness and strength unlike any other material. This relatively new technology is still in its infancy, and scientists are just beginning to exploit the characteristics of this material. Called the "next frontier" in research and manufacturing, scientists expect great advances in areas such as external pageelectronics and structural reinforcement.
A external page2004 RAND report on science and technology research and development capacity in Japan used input from leading US researchers in fields such as nanotechnology and materials science. The report noted that, in general, Japan appeared "on par" with the US in scientific research. However, the report did note "the clearest example of Japanese success and world leadership is in carbon nanotube development."
According to JSEA Director external pageYoshio Aoki, the tether traveling from earth to space presents one of the greatest structural problems. The cables would be 36,000 km long, and would need to be incredibly strong. Carbon nanotubes are particularly appealing for the external pageelevator tether because they have approximately 100 times the strength of steel at one-fifth the weight. According to Aoki, the cables for the space elevator would only need to be four times stronger than currently available nanotube technology.
Japan will host external pageNano Tech 2009 in Tokyo 18-20 February 2009. This nanotechnology exhibition will aid in the spread of ideas that will likely encourage further research and development in nanotechnologies applicable to the development of a space elevator.
A space elevator would eliminate the need for vast fuel requirements currently needed to launch space shuttles.
The external pageelevator car would be electric and run from laser-energized power cells. According to Aoki, the country plans to implement technology from its high-speed external page"bullet" trains to power the elevator cars as they travel along the tether. This seems to be a likely avenue of research, as Japan has long been at the forefront of high-speed rail technology. It inaugurated the world's first high speed train in external page1964 and continues to advance the technology. The external pageoriginal trains traveled at 200 kph and now reach speeds of 300 kph, with work currently underway to incorporate new trains that cruise at 360 kph. Based on Japan's history of technologically-advanced rail travel, it is likely that Japan will be the first to successfully develop the propulsion system to ferry elevator cars to space.
In July, Microsoft sponsored the external page2008 Space Elevator Conference in Redmond, Washington. According to space elevator advocate Bradley Edwards, the elevator is a external pagecost issue, but could become reality with sufficient funds in 12-15 years. NASA's external page2003 estimate was that a space elevator could be operational in 15 years at a cost of US$15 billion. However, there are skeptics, including Tom Nugent of LaserMotive, a laser research and development company, citing technical and safety concerns.
Nonetheless, external pageLaserMotive participated in the Spaceward Foundation's power beaming challenge, part of the Spaceward Foundation’s 4th annual Elevator Games in October in the US state of Arizona. The annual competition focuses on tethers and power beaming, and encourages groups to help develop technology to external pageenable a space elevator, while competing for US$4 million. No participants have ever satisfied the technical requirements to earn prize money, but the games and awards do offer a temptation to speed up work to develop space elevator technology. Still, the lure of money to a competition to enhance technology applicable to the space elevator makes the prospect more likely.
Japan will host an external pageinternational conference 15-16 November to formulate a timetable for the elevator. external pageEuro Spaceward will host another gathering, the 2nd International Conference on Space Elevator Climber and Tether Design in Luxembourg in December. Based on the recent space elevator news, it is likely that and the events will encourage developers to forge ahead with research and work to hurry the construction of a space elevator.