Saturday, August 29, 2009
Space elevator
Read material or watch videos from reputable sources about the space elevator. Explore how nanotubes can be used to construct it. Share your comment in a ONE paragraph max about either: 1- cost, 2- feasibility of nanotube polymerization for the length required, 3-timeline, 4- alternatives. Comments are to be substantiated by sources.
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I did a little bit of reasearch on the space elevator and basically what it is, is in 2010 then they plan to build or start building rather,a cable anchored to the Earth's surface, reaching into space. The elevator would travel to and from space on that cable. Although it seems somewhat far fetched it may be possible, because there are people who thought we could never travel to outer space and we proved them wrong. The way technology is advancing why should this be any different? The only problem is that we dont have nearly enough money as a nation to spend on building an elevator that right now is estimated to be about $10-20 billion dollars in cost, and the cost could rise as more work is done on the elevator. According to NOVA(yes NOVA, not NASA)it should take about 10-12 years to finish building the space elevator. With test runs and things like that and glitches that would have to be fixed ect.,the space elevator, if possible, would be accessible to humans in mabye 15- 20 years minimum.
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ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteWilliam Boutinet, 4th peroid, honors biology
ReplyDeletetopic- space elevator nanotubes and cost
nanotubes can only be made at about 1 to 2 tons per week, and the amount of nanotubes needed are substantiallty larger than what is being produced; at that rate, it will take a while just to have enough nanotubes ready to begin production of the space elevator. Also, i think the price and time it will take to build the space elevator is too large to be undertaken right now. i believe that the space elevator project should not happen until nanotubes can be made at a faster rate and we have technology advanced enough to reduce the cost and production time.
bibliography
-http://www.thespacereview.com/article/916/1
-http://www.niac.usra.edu/files/library/meetings/annual/jun02/521Edwards.pdf
-http://www.spaceelevator.com/
Space elvetor is 100,000 km long. The elevator rech Mars pass the Moon.The elevator is a beam of ribbon connect counter weight. The climer will climb on laser-beam power. It will took 10 year and 10 billion to build the space elevator. The space elevator will cause a $100 to transpotr item per pounce.
ReplyDeleteMinh Nguyen per 4
What i believe about the space elevator. One Its a money saving idea compared to the prices of thousands of space crafts. It can further research on making a habitat on a planet. The safety is more secure than a rocket. The space elevator also will loosen the grip on fossil fuel dependence. (cites used http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/3401/02.html, http://www.liftport.com/,http://www.spaceelevator.com/)
ReplyDeleteDavid Barahona 2nd Period
What I think of space elevator. One is a more secure and safe way to travel into space than space shuttles. Next, is that the elevator will open new genre's of experimentation such as trying make a city on the moon. In addition the elevator might loosen are dependence on fossil fuels. This is a cheaper way to travel than space shuttles.
ReplyDelete(Sites Used http://www.spaceelevator.com/,http://www.liftport.com/, http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/3401/02.html)
David Barahona Period 2
Victoria Trutie
ReplyDeleteAugust 31, 2009
The Space Elevator, also known as the Liftport Space Elevator, is an easier and cheaper way to travel to space. Using a strong material to create a "ribbon-like" connection, the space elevator is attached to a satellite which will follow earth's orbit. This will provide a way for people to travel to space and send materials for thousands of dollars less. The space elevator is also a much safer way of getting to space; there is no risks of an engine exploding like that of a rocket's. Unfortunately the Space Elevator won't be up for use for a while.
http://www.liftport.com/
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/3401/02-why-flash.html
Yurimar Jaen Period 4 Honors Biology
ReplyDeleteSpace Elevator and the cost
Creating a space elevator isn't a simple task,as we are still not producing nanotubes(the material that shows the most promise)efficiently enough.The production of a space elevator isn't cheap too.However,in the 10-20 billion dollars estimated that we would be spending on making it are beneficial for the reason that it currently takes about 10,000 to 40,000 dollars to launch rockets,send people and objects into space while if we had a space elevator the cost would be significantly lower about 100 dollars per pound.Along,with that the new method would carry plenty other positives.While it may take a decade or more to build such an elevator we are always advancing,and most likely in our lifetime we will see it's completion.
Bibliography
http://www.science-city.com/awscienpic.html
www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/3401/02.html
http://www.niac.usra.edu/files/library/meetings/annual/jun02/521Edwards.pdf
http://www.spaceelevatorblog.com/?p=918
http://www.physorg.com/news151938445.html
Ana Sophia Mifsud Period 7
ReplyDeleteThe first thing my brother did when i mentioned the project to him was laugh and said it was ridiculous idea. I defended the project and said that there would be many benefits from the project like the less dependance on fossil fuels when sending something into space but then i started reading about all the disadvantages of the project. The greatest and most important problem that i see with this project is the price. It would initial cost $6.2 billion+ the operation cost which would be high to maintain the very expensive and complex cables and the elevators operation. This project would cost an extra 2 billion dollars if the cables were to be increased the recommended 1m wide instead of just 20 cm wide. If the elevator where to function under the 20 cm wide cords it would just last about 3 years making, the time making it more than the time it would be in use. To wrap this all up I think that the concept of the project is a good one but it should not be started until its cost goes down and they find a faster way to produce the cords needed for the elevator.
Site used:
http://www.niac.usra.edu/files/library/meetings/annual/jun02/521Edwards.pdf
The Space elevator, also referred to as the Liftport Space Elevator, in my opinion is an astounding idea. Cost wise, i believe that it will be an immensely economic invention because if you think about it, just one shuttle alone costs $10,000 a pound to put a payload into low-Earth orbit. Additionally, if you want to go to the moon or possibly Mars, the cost will be hundreds of thousands of dollars per pound. I think that this is much too costly whereas the elevator can do the same thing for only a fraction of the price.
ReplyDeleteSource:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/3401/02.html
In my opinion the cost of building a space elevator is to much since this will be the first time anything like this was ever attemted my projection is that the cost will be closer to 20 billion dollars at a low. Furthermore since most of this technology is relatively new there will be bugs which will cost more money to fix and there will be weather and space hazards which will effect the elevator and repairs will cost MORE money. Furthermore if we do build this we will have to spend more money to colonize any planets and what would happen if we built this thing and were unable to colonize anything? We would have just wasted. although we can relate this projet to is the building of the International Space Station which has takin alot more money han expected and is taking longer to build than expected. Furtheremore even if it only cost 100- 400$ per pound if u sent up an 8 ton object to build something then of how much oney that would cost.
ReplyDeleteAlbert Tacornal P-7
www.howstuffworks.com/space-elevator.htm
www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/3401/02.html
www.spaceelevator.com/
Aneal Sunny
ReplyDeletePeriod 07
Honors Biology
The Space Elevator look like it is a great idea, but the problems seem to outnumber the profit. The Space Program would hae to spend billions of Dollars on the testing of the material alone and the construction of this large nanotube wire would no doubt take many years and if the wire were to some how fail there would be a Billion dollar piece of trash floating in space the second problem would be how to get the Elevator to space because if the nanotubes migth get damaged if they are connected to Earth but if you take it in pieces there might be a chance that the Elevator might float away.
Catherine Cazimir p.7
ReplyDeleteWhen I first read the blog comment I was like wow what is she talking about?!?!?!...And then I did some research on the Space Elevator & nanotubes & was very interested on what I found. In my opinion the price is very acceptable since their budget is in between $10 & $20 billion dollars. Basically this project is when a cable is connected to the Earth's surface. About 20 tons of cable will be needed & used for the creation of the first space elevator. I learned that nanotubes are a small carbon tube having a cylindrical configuration.
Yasmin Ali, 7th Period Honors Biology
ReplyDeleteThe space elevator is a unique invention. According to the physicist Bradley Edwards, it will reduce the amount of money needed to get to Space. It can also take large loads, enough to be able to build cities and even space stations. Rockets are very expensive, as well as risky and limited in the load they can carry. So cost wise, and space wise, the space elevator is very interesting and should be given a shot. As Edwards said, the cost of the elevator would be a fraction of the cost of the rocket.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/3401/02-why-flash.html
Nanotubes could possibly be used to construct the space elevator, because of Cambridge scientists’ recent developments of a light, flexible form of them. Nanotubes, which are one of the strongest materials on the planet, have been too brittle in the past to be formed into such long pieces. However, with this development, the dream of the space elevator is closer than ever to becoming a reality. Although the cost of building the space elevator is approximately 40 to 50 billion dollars, it could most likely prove to be a cheaper way to travel in space, in the long run. The space elevator could lift material at one fifth the cost of a rocket, since most of a rocket’s energy is used simply to escape earth’s gravity. It also could be used over and over again. Once built, the space elevator could make space travel much cheaper and more efficient than ever before.
ReplyDelete(2000, September 7). Audacious and Outrageous: Space Elevators. Science@NASA. Retrieved August 29, 2009, from http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2000/ast07sep_1.htm
Cost and Feasibility of Space Elevator. Message posted to National Space Society Space Elevator Special Interest Chapter, archived at http://seattlewebcrafters.com/nsecc/?q=node/view/115
Zyga, L. (2009, January23). Long Stretchy Carbon Nanotubes Could Make Space Elevators Possible. PHYSORG.com. Retrieved August 29, 2009, from http://www.physorg.com/news151938445.html
Jan Ileto
ReplyDeletePeriod 2
My Space Elevator Opinion
The Space Elevator in my opinion would be a great cost to make, but at the same time it will benefit us for a long time because it will reduce the cost from getting to space from Earth. The space elevator is planned to be built on an ocean platform, where you climb into a module and it starts moving to the height of 100,000 km in space. The benefits as they see it would be discovering if space energy could be used for oil instead of gas, new ways of telecommunication, manufacturing in space, and exploration. The Space Elevator will consists of ribbon composed of strong but light material, carbon nanotubes, and it would be anchored on Earth while the other end is in space. The Earth's rotation will give the force that is needed keep the pull of gravity at bay and the ribbon taut. According to LiftPort Group they plan to build a Space Elevator by October 27, 2031.
Resources:
http://www.liftport.com/
http://www.spaceelevator.com/
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/3401/02-why-flash.html
Ian Mucenic-period #2
ReplyDeleteI think the development of said elevator would be both expensive and impractical. Due to the fact that it would take many resources and new science methods to create, it would be a very time consuming and painstaking task. Instead of investing money on an elevator, they should improve the already developed space shuttle. Since it would take a very long time to use the elevator to get to the I.S.S as mine as well use the already developed and well functioning shuttle. It would end up costing a lot less and save the time used to develop the space elevator to focus on something more important i.e planets with similar environments as Earth, or life on other planets.
spaceelevator.com
howstuffworks.com
The idea of a space elevator is very far-fetched almost impossible. It is safer and cheaper (about 20 Billion all done) than frequent shuttles being sent into space. Due to the discovery of carbon nano tubes scientists now believe this is possible. The carbon nano tubes are thinner than human hair yet stronger than steel! And they can conduct electricity. BUT the longest nano tubes that have been created have been no longer than a few cm long and the space elevator has to be 22,000 miles long.... It is also in risk of being hit by objects in space which would result in repair costs. But people are still looking for ways to do this NASA held a competition in New Mexico to create space elevator prototypes and a team actually met all the requirements and took home the prize money.
ReplyDeleteSITE USED:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnwZmWoymeI
I saw a video about a how they could launch the elevator and the theory is wireless lasers. Also, there was a competition being held in New Mexico, where several universities and groups participated to build an elevator using solar power. The point of the competiotion was to see who would get to the top of a ribbon in the less time. There are several questions on how to build the cable to the elevator but the main material that is being discussed are nanotubes. Nanotubes are tubes of carbon that are stronger than steel. The only problem with nano tubes is that they are hard to stack one on top of the other because they are so small. The link to the video is
ReplyDelete(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnwZmWoymeI)
check it out...
I view the Space Lift as any first generation electronic. You don't want to buy into it because it is bound to have a few kinks.
ReplyDeleteNASA needs about 144,000 miles of nanotube to build it's full project. Currently, scientists can make about 1 gram of the new carbon material per day, which can stretch to 18 miles in length. The cost would be 6.2 billion dollars (projected budget) ranging from cables to spacecraft to contingency. The cost, in the long run, would be low compared to renting rockets from the russians to send our astronauts to space. The feasible outcome for polymerization of such long carbon nanotubes could take years. NASA puts the operation costs at about $10 kg/day and it could carry 5000 kg/day. Yearly operational costs would be <100 M/yr. The schedule is set at 1-10 years from start. Power beaming construction would begin at 1.5 years into the schedule. 3 years into construction commences the climber and cable construction, and cable build up continues until end of project. The only alternatives available to NASA at the moment is to send astronauts up in space shuttles, which is much more expensive than the proposed elevator. NASA will soon have to buy rockets from Russia at $40,000 a rocket to send our astronauts into space, after their space shuttle fleet is retired.
William Hilton. Period 4
http://www.niac.usra.edu/files/library/meetings/annual/jun02/521Edwards.pdf
http://www.physorg.com/news151938445.html
Video: http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/2057-space-elevator.html
ReplyDeleteThe space elevator is a cable that will go from Earth to the international space center. They will start building or trying to build it in 2010. The elevatpr will be about 100,000 km and cost about 20 billion dollars.It will be less costly than sending people up in shuttles and will be much safer.
ReplyDeleteEmory Walsh
ReplyDeleteperiod 2
I have read several sites and articles on the space elavator idea and they all say there are benifits from it such as bring up big solar pannals and sending the energy back to earth. Or it would cut coast for the rockets that go up, or giving us the ability to go back and forth easily and build a city on the moon. These ideas to me seem pretty crazy and unrealistc.the idea of having a monstrous cable coming from here to space is insane. the coast of the space elavator as well is a factor to be aware of. 6.2 billion dallors. that is alot of money to be spending on something that might not work as we plan it would.
the space elevator is a good idea for sci-fye movie but for what i think it's worth,it's nothing for our planet earth. with more time to plan and study and throw ideas out into the open maybe in a few more years, to me it seems like they are rushing into this project without thinkng everything throgh.
building citys on different planets just doest seem like the most imporant thing rite now or in a year to come, which is when they plan on building. but the space elevator would be a good research tool for our scientis here on the ground.
sources:
http://www.spaceelevatorconference.org
http://www.spaceward.org/elevator2010
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencehow/3401/02.html
http://www.spaceelevator.com/
In my opinion, the space elevator idea is a great idea in theory, however, there are many problems in this idea. For one thing, the cost of it would be in the millions if not billions, if anything were to go wrong, it would be a catastrophe. The entire elevator would have to be made out of nanotubes so as to prevent the elevator from being damaged. Another problem with the nano tubes is how would you permanently attach them to the elevator. Besides this, at the current rate of travel, which is 1 meter per second, it would take 97.22 hours to get from here to the international space station.
ReplyDeleteI think that the Space elevator is a great idea. It is a good idea because it will reduce the cost of getting from earth to space. Scientists have developed a type of carbon nanotube material that may bring space elevators to reality. A 4 million dollar prize from NASA was given. The scientists found a way to combine multiple separate nanotubes together to form long strands. NASA needs about 144,000 miles of nanotube to build one. Carbon nanotubes have been too brittle yet to be formed into such long pieces.
ReplyDelete-http://www.physorg.com/news151938445.html
-http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/3401/02-why-flash.html
Danielle Keeler
ReplyDeleteperiod 2
I have to say, all this space elevator information is riveting. It's amazing how far we've come from 40 years ago, the first moonwalk in 1969. Michael Laine is one person of the devoted group of people trying to make this space elevator idea even possible. Right now, NASA and other space associations are offering a whopping $4 million dollars for any inventor to create the technology to build this future phenomenon. Now if that's prize money, imagine the cost! Scientists predict this project to cost AT LEAST $10 billion dollars. Add the insurance and all the other small details and you're looking at a lot of money +$15 billion dollars. It seems like a lot of money now but, in the long run it will be well worth it!
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/business2/business2_archive/2006/03/01/8370588/index.htm
http://www.spaceelevatorblog.com/
http://money.cnn.com/2009/08/13/smallbusiness/space_elevator.smb/
http://www.spaceelevator.com/
The space elevator will be a lot cheaper than sending a space shuttle in orbit. It would only cost about 7 billion dollars and it would take about 12 to 15 years. This is cheaper than building a new space shuttle. It will also be able to transport cargo and people at a cheaper cost. This will allow more people to go to space. This would also be safer than going in a
ReplyDeletespace shuttle.
sources:
http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/07/18/1206845.aspx
Megan Ely
ReplyDeleteHonors Biology, Period 7
To transport objects (be them people, supplies, machinery, et cetera) from Earth to space takes billions of dollars with NASA alone. Though currency conversions may provide for slightly lower costs to run foreign equivalents of our space administration, it is all in the 'far too expensive' range. With an elevator connecting our world to the rest of them, such trips would be fairly inexpensive. Each trip would be a nominal fee, one far lower than the cost of a shuttle. The actual construction of this elevator could possibly revel to be expensive, but it'd be nearly free to use. The keeping of it would be relatively cheap as well. Whereas now millions of dollars are dropped for the repairing and upgrading of shuttles, with this proposed elevator, we would not have that. It'd be more cost-effective, not to mention faster and easier.
Space Elevator. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/3401/02.html
Udell, J. (2008, August 8). A space elevator might arrive sooner, and cost less, than you think. Retrieved from http://blog.jonudell.net/2008/08/08/a-space-elevator-might-arrive-sooner-and-cost-less-than-you-think/
Gabriel Garcia
ReplyDeletePeriod 7 Honors Biology
I did some research on how much it will cost to construct a space elevator. As of 2006, carbon nanotubes cost $25/gram. A very low payload space elevator ("seed ribbon") could have a mass of at least 18,000 kg, which would cost about $450 million. That is less than half of the cost of the single launch of the space shuttle.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_elevator
Abby Moore
ReplyDeletePeriod 7
The space elevator is expected to be a "ribbon like" or cable, that streaches from Earth to space. The mission of the space elevator is to transport large amounts of cargo, etc. saftly and easily from Earth to space. Scientists believe that when the space elevator has succesfully transported these materials, they can build cities and space stations on the moon.They also expect, to use build large solar arrays to collect solar energy and bring it to Earth... Another reason that scientists want to build the space elevator is the resorces that the elevator needs to build it. The elevator would consist of multiple nanotubes formed together to form long strands ( the ribbon ). 144,000 miles of nanotubes will be needed to complete this task. Before this discovery, which was inspired by a $4 mill. reward, nanotubes were too brittle to be made into long pieces. Scientists are using nanotubes because nanotubes are long and stretchy, which will require less material, and more miles of it. Which also contributes to the elevator costing less than a rocket.
http://www.physorg.com/news151938445.html
Jose Alvarez
ReplyDeletePeriod 7
Separating the nanotubes and constructing a 3-dimensional tube is one of the hardest tasks of this project. The major problems I see is that the nanotubes have magnetic properties, it is difficult to obtain them without them connecting, and they are nanometers in size. This means that even if NASA garners the 144,000 miles of nanotubes-fibers to form the shape of the giant cable, a carbon nano-fiber that is four times the strength of modern-2009 carbon nanotubes would be needed to construct the elevator cable. This keeps the project at a stand still until there is a sturdier form of carbon nanotubes.
Sites used:
http://www.physorg.com/news151938445.html
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/science/article4799369.ece
http://www.pa.msu.edu/cmp/csc/ntproperties/
Biology Honors Period 7
ReplyDeleteA space elevator is made up of a carbon nanotube that goes to Earth from a satellite and is attached at the equator. You are able to climb it mechanically by climbers powered by lasers that lift the elevator up to space. This would cost much less that sending a rocket. For a launch a rocket costs $4,300/kg carried, while a space elevator can lift 250/kg. The total cost to construct it is in between $10 to 20 billion dollars, but both how much it costs per kg and the construction are predicted to rise. The space elevator will help the planet “GO GREEN” in three different ways. First, we will not have to build and launch satellites because the elevator is already monitoring around space, so less fossil fuels will be used. It will be economically possible to make huge solar power satellites in space that will send back to Earth ten times the energy as solar cells, without affecting the environment. Finally it will help to get rid of nuclear wastes in a safe way.
This project is planned to start in 2010. In my opinion this will a be a great achievement from NASA.
Sources
http://search.nasa.gov/search/search.jsp?nasaInclude=space+elevator+2010&entqr=0&output=xml_no_dtd&sort=date:D:L:d1&ud=1&site=nasa_collection&client=nasa_production&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&simple_start=&news_start=&images_start=&videos_start=&podcasts_start=&baynote_start=&baynoteOrGSA=baynote#
http://ecolloq.gsfc.nasa.gov/archive/2003-Fall/announce.edwards.html
Carolina Almonacid
Shadi Rohani
ReplyDeletePeriod 4
Space Elevator
Basically how I pictured the Space Elevator was a normal elevator shooting through space connected to a small tube, the thought seemed unrealistic, and at the most impossible. I really didn’t even think the idea was plausible until researching about the Elevator. It was around the 1960’s that space elevators were first proposed. The idea generally was a cable strung between Earth and space but in generalization there was no feasible material that existed. That’s why years later in 1991 the discovery of carbon nanotubes made it possible to at least construct a discussion of the space elevator. Nanotubes were a hundred times stronger than steel and 1/5 heavier. There were many complications like the fact that only small quantities of the substance were produced. At this moment in time the total cost for this project would be fairly around the 50,000 per lb. I think the cost for the elevator is very high but probably a reasonable price for the amount of money and technology put into the Space Elevator. Probably by 2013 the price would go higher.
Resources
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science
http://www.niac.usra.edu/files/library/meetings/annual/jun02/521Edwards.pdf
Alexis Lopez
ReplyDeleteBiology Honors Period 7
Science is advancing everyday. With the creation of the space elevator, the price to get to space will be by all means cheaper. This elevator is ribbon like and some what of a cable that extends from earth to space. This cable is made out of nanotubes which are a type of fiber. We will need to put up about 144,000 miles of nanotubes to make one track. The elevator cars will be attached to the nanotubes cable and sent into space along the track. The elevator will be able to take cargo and other things up to space. NASA along with their partners in this project hope that the cost in order to build will be efficient and that it will be clean towards our environment. Scientists believe this won't be created for another decade or so, but atleast in our lifetime we might be able to see this incredible advancement.
Sites Used:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/3401/02.html
http://www.spaceelevator.com/
The space elevator seems like it could happen . The elevator will reduce the amount of money of getting from Earth to space. Very large payloads will be easy to carry into space and also safe. Who knows, we might be able to make cities on the moon?
ReplyDeleteSource: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/3401/02.html
Itzel Castillo
ReplyDeletePeriod 2
Biology Honors
The Space Elevator will be 100,000 km long. It will be able to go up using laser beam power. The Space Elevator will take 10 years and 10 billion dollars. I personally think that the concept hasn't had sufficient thinking put into it. I understand that this will make space travel easier and a bit cheaper but i also know for sure that the cost will be more than 10 billion dollars. Taking in consideration that elevators need repair after a certain period of time, repair will be very costly. The lunar stations that they're plan to build will be costly to maintain as well. I predict that the total sum of this project will be more than 30 billion and rising.
Bibliography:
http://www.spaceelevator.com/
www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/3401/02.html
www.liftport.com/
www.spaceward.org/elevator2010
www.research.ibm.com/nanoscience/nanotubes.html
As I was watching a video about the space elevator on spaceelevator.com I was wondering, "Why not make another rocket?" Apparently the cost of a rocket is $10,000 per pound for low-Earth orbit. If you wanted to go farther in space like Mars it would cause thousands of dollar and maybe even millions. Using a space elevator will reduce the cost for payload, saving us lots of money. The cost for the space elevator ranges from $10-20 billion. The space elevator might be ready by 2020s.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.impactlab.com/2009/08/18/space-elevator-could-be-operational-by-2020/
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/3401/02-why-flash.html
http://www.spaceelevator.com/
Alexis Lopez
ReplyDeleteHonors Biology Period 7
With the great advancements of technology there will soon be a space elevator. this elevator will take you from a platform atop the ocean to space. It runs on a track made from nanotubes. The estimated amount of nanotubes to be used is 144,000 miles. Scientist believe this will be more cost efficient then launching rockets into space as well as cleaner for the environment. Once up there, scientists want to create solar panels and direct them down to the earth. This elevator can take up cargo as well as many other things. This technology could eventually lead to space tourism. A space elevator can lift cargo at one-fifth the cost that a rocket can. On a shuttle it costs hundreds of thousands of dollars per pound while the elevator will be a hundred to even a thousand times cheaper. Although this technology won't be around till atleast another decade hopefully we will be able to see it in our lifetimes.
Sources:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/3401/02.html
http://www.spaceelevator.com/
Euardo Navarro
ReplyDeletePerdiod 7 honors bilogy
Carbon nanotubes are extremly thin sheets of carbon wrapped around itself to create an extraordinary long, thin, and very strong string. It is a hundred times sttronger than steel but twenty percent the size of it. These echnology was invented about 15 years ago but used in a limited way due to the complexity, price, and danger of making it. The good thing is that reasercher Dr. Jannette Benavides discovered a simpler, cheaper, and safer way of producing it. However it is still made at a very slow rate. The major problem is the cost. The cost to build it is 602 billion dollars. This price does not include the launch of the elevator. The approximate operation cost of it if it is made is 100 million a year
Avalon Hoek Spaans pd. 7
ReplyDeleteI did some research on the space elevator and i personally do not think it will work. Yes carbon nanotubes are flexible and strong but their is not enough proof that they can with stand great amount of pressure such as the ones in space. If they do build a space elevator they should use it to transport things such as food and specimens to astronauts that are already in the space station. I think that instead of wasting their time and money building a new device that can bring more people into space they should be researching whats on the moon and what resources in space we can actually profit off of.
http://www.howstuffworks.com/space-elevator.htm
http://www.spaceelevator.com/
Alexa Chaname per 4
ReplyDeleteSpace elevator seems like a far fetched idea but may soon be possible.The goal is for a space elevator to start being built in 2010.The basic idea is for this elevator to take people to the international space center . The elevator is made up of carbon nanotubes which are 100 times stronger then steel but are flexible. The nanotube would be anchored to a sea platform and about 100,000 km long. This would become the tallest structure ever built.
will ragheb
ReplyDeleteh-bio
p.7
i researched on how much it will cost to construct a space elevator. the time to biuld would be 10 years and it would cost $10 billion dollars. this is about $100/lb. That is less than half of the space shuttle or space transportation system.
http://www.spaceelevator.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_program#Budget
Conrad Ruiz
ReplyDeleteP.7
The space elevator is an idea to create a 22,000 mile long cable comprised of a special material known as carbon nanotubes. The way they would do it is first, they would launch a satellite into geosynchronous orbit, 22,000miles above earth. then they would lowere the cable or ribbon down to earth, and attach it to a platform at sea. Clamped to the ribbon, elevator cars holding people or cargo would go up and down. Lasers on the ground would beam energy wirelessly to solar cells on the underside of the clamps, powering electric motors for the journey into space. The space elevator would be cheaper and safer than rockets.
http://www.pbs.org/wbgh/nova/sciencenow/3401/02.html
this was a great a video that i watched. I learned a lot and there is also the TV show Nova Science Now that is extremely cool.
Jasmine Pattany
ReplyDeletePeriod 7, Honors Biology.
Space Elevator
144,000 miles of nanotube is needed to build a space elevator. NASA is planning to construct the space elevator starting in 2010 and should be finished earliest by 2014. Nanotube is made of carbon. The space elevator is hoped to be used for space explorations and space colonization, and will make travel to space much cheaper. The nanotubes are basicaly a huge and light rope that will connect Earth to an object in orbit. The elevator would go up and down along the rope. Cambridge can make one gram of the carbon needed for the rope than can cover 18 miles. The estimated cost for this project is somewhere between 7 and 10 billion dollars. However, in the long run it would save money because it is a cheaper way to travel into space considering that rocketing (the alternative) costs much more.
http://www.physorg.com/news15938445.html
Period 7 honors bio
ReplyDeleteThe space elevator will expand space exploration and will save money and fossil fuels which will immensely contribute to our environment . There is no exact cost of the space elevator, but there is an estimated cost of around $10 billion. A working elevator would reduce the cost of launching anything into space by roughly 98 percent. The elevator can carry hundreds of people at a time or 200 tons of cargo at $100 per pound. The space elevator will drastically effect the cost of space travel. More than 90 percent of a space shuttles weight is fuel, only 5 percent of the weight is cargo. On the elevator there is no fuel necessary because the elevator would be electric. It would be powered by a nanotube elevator ribbon, from a ground based laser beam. One of the only downsides to this project is the cost. It is my opinion that we should wait to invest in this project until our economy is stable.
Space elevator
ReplyDeleteA space elevator is a proposed structure designed to transport material from earth surface into space. There are many variants proposed. The concept refers to a structure that reaches from the surface of the earth on or near the equator to geostationary orbit. For a space elevator, the cost varies according to the design. For the design they first have in mind has an n estimate cost of $10 to 20 billion dollars. The cost will go up with more renovations done to the elevator. So imagine how much it will cost when it’s done. (The elevator is 100,000 km long.)
~Ashley Bain
per. 7
hbio.
Keanu Tavares
ReplyDeleteHonors Biology Per. 2
The basic idea of the space elevator is to connect the earth with a counterweight in space, using tethers or ribbons most likely made of carbon nanotube fibers. The synthetic material would stretch 62,000 miles, or 100,000 kilometers. It is estimated that it will take $7 billion to $10 billion, and less than 50 years until we see it's completion. The space elevator, once complete, would be much more cost-effective, too. Current orbital launches typically cost $2,000 to $60,000 a pound. With the space elevator, launches would cost only $100 dollars or so per pound.
http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/07/18/1206845.aspx
http://www.spaceelevator.com/
Flavio Carvalho
ReplyDeletePeriod 7
In 1895, Konstantin Tsiolkovsky first came up with the idea of a space elevator. In 1979, Arthur C. Clarke thought of using carbon nanotubes, which are possibly 100 times stronger than steel and as flexible as plastic, for the space elevator, even though he was still surprised of some events that have taken place in that time. In 2000, David Smitherman and a group at a NASA workshop, determined that it is barely feasible to build the elevator with existing materials. But the concept is simple, which may change the space elevator from science fiction to an actual possibility. In 2005, NASA started a competition to see who can build a model space elevator, putting the idea as a very close possibility. Arthur C. Clarke believes that the space elevator in 2020, he is a very influential person in the science community and a very smart thinker about the future.
Sources:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7304852.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4309586.stm
http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-28738711_ITM
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn10353
http://www.indopedia.org/Timeline_of_the_future_in_forecasts.html
Carla Casares
ReplyDeleteBiology Honors
Period: 7
The "LiftPort Space Elevator" commonly know as "The Space Elevator" is a ribbon of strong and light material called nanotubes. It will be anchored on Earth at the LiftPort Sation, connecting 100,000 km above where in space it will be attached to a counterweight. This is inexpensive and will open new economic opportunities. It will also reduce the cost of getting to space from Earth and is believed to be safer.It is estimated to cost about 20 million dollars, but in the long run it will be worthwhile.
-www.liftport.com
-www.spaceelevator.com
-www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/3401/02-why-flash.html
Benjamin Kaminsky Honors Biology P.4
ReplyDeleteA "Space Elevator" is a a long carbon nanotube that streches from the surface of the Earth to a object in outer space. In order for the elevator line to stay tawt, whatever object is used must be geosynchronized with Earth (a satellite will most likely be used). A laser from Earth will beam electricity to a solar panel on the elevator which will propel it up the 144,000 mile long nanotube.
The best benefit to building a space elevator is cost. Launching rockets and space shuttles are expensive ($10,000 for every pound that is launched) and they can explode in the atmosphere (Challenger, Columbia). Carbon Nanotubes however are virtually indestructible. A space elevator would provide a cheap, safe way for humans to travel to the stars.
Sources:
http://www.physorg.com/news151938445.html
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/3401/02-why-flash.html
K
ReplyDeleteThe space elevator is a very old concept that scientists and NASA is
ReplyDeletetrying to make a practical idea.it is basically a long tube that
brings you into space and would expand human civilizations into
space.the new ideas that have helped the concept to a realistic idea
are the new nanotube technology which is an alloy that is both light
weight and strong and flexible enough for the project.also the idea of
a counterweight to helpstabilize the elevator is revolutionary and is
making and bringing us closer and closer to making it a realistic
idea. Near the end of the 19th century a Russian scientist proposed
the idea of the space elevator by observing the eiffel tower and it
sounded like science fiction at the time.throughout the 20th century
different scientists mostly American and Russian because of their
concurrence for space exploration came up with the ideas and each new
version built upon another until the modern concept which we have
today was finally thought of and I believe tht it is nearly perfected
and will soon be a reality.
Source:
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_elevator?wasRedirected=true
Samantha Mora
ReplyDeletePeriod 7
After researching the impossible seeming space elevator, I actually believe that it can work. The space elevator is a “ribbon” of carbon nanotubes that extend from Earth all the way into space, approximately 62,000 miles long, three feet wide, and thinner than a sheet of paper, and is being planned on being built in 2010. Similar to a yo-yo spinning in the air, the ribbon is forced to be taut because of the centrifugal force it gets from the rotation of Earth. I think that nanotubes will work because they are extremely strong and flexible, and can allow vehicles up to 20 tons climb them into outer space. Not only is this concept possible, but I think it will also be convenient and, in the long run, cheaper than using ordinary space shuttles. Of course, it will be a number of years before the space elevator will become a successful reality, but it will be worth it once it is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2UZDHHDhog
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnwZmWoymeI
http://www.howstuffworks.com/space-elevator.htm
Samantha Mora
ReplyDeletePeriod 7
After researching the impossible seeming space elevator, I actually believe that it can work. The space elevator is a “ribbon” of carbon nanotubes that extend from Earth all the way into space, approximately 62,000 miles long, three feet wide, and thinner than a sheet of paper, and is being planned on being built in 2010. Similar to a yo-yo spinning in the air, the ribbon is forced to be taut because of the centrifugal force it gets from the rotation of Earth. I think that nanotubes will work because they are extremely strong and flexible, and can allow vehicles up to 20 tons climb them into outer space. Not only is this concept possible, but I think it will also be convenient and, in the long run, cheaper than using ordinary space shuttles. Of course, it will be a number of years before the space elevator will become a successful reality, but it will be worth it once it is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2UZDHHDhog
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnwZmWoymeI
http://www.howstuffworks.com/space-elevator.htm
I think that the space elevator is a great i dea but i do not believe that we will be able to build it any time soon. One thing is that NASA would need around 140,000 miles of nanotube. Another problem is that the cost to build the space elevator is incredibly high. The project is lacking government funding which is another problem. Even if they did make all the nanotubes their is still a chance that the space elevator could put to much pressure on them. I think that the space elevator is possible but we shouldnt be wasting our time or money on a project that is not really needed at the moment.
ReplyDeletewww.spaceelevator.com
www.physorg.com
Alexandra Lara Period 4-
ReplyDeleteThe space elevator is an idea of a carbon nanotube composite ribbon that is meant to go up in space. The material that is going to be used to make this elevator is stronger than 100 times the strength of steel and is extremely flexible. It also can resist extreme temperatures like such in space. The elevator will make traveling to space much cheaper than space shuttles therefore many more people can travel to space. The price is said to be made at $220 to $880 per kilogram or $100 to $400 per pound of the cargo or person who is going up the elevator. In order to keep the ribbon taut, there will be a counterweight at the end of it. The length of the elevator will be 100,000 km or 62,000 miles, making it 180,720 taller than the tallest structure ever built by mankind, the CN Tower.
Sources:
-http://www.howstuffworks.com/space-elevator.htm
-http://www.spaceelevator.com/
Augusto Ramirez
ReplyDeletePeriod 7, Honors Biology
Space Elevator
A long viewed science fiction idea could possibly become true with many years of research. I’m talking about the space elevator which would be a revolutionary means of transport from earth into space. It includes a 22,000 mile long cable made out of special material called carbon nanotubes. Carbon nanotubes are extremely thin (Their diameter being about 10,000 times smaller than human hair), hollow cylinders made of carbon atoms but they are also 100 times stronger than steel and 1/5 as heavy. Making this space elevator could just be one of the most important inventions of our time, not only an advance in our knowledge and technology but also economy wise. Currently the cost for transporting objects into space in shuttles is $50,000/lb comparing to the near-future cost of $100/lb in a space elevator, it would also have more capacity (12,000 lb/day compared to the current 4,000 lb/day). Its lower cost would also influence to the usefulness of the space elevator, more private companies would invest to transport at a lower cost and more tourists will be able to pay for this type of transport. The thing is, its initial cost will be huge, about 6.2 billion dollars. That is, not including the operations cost or even additional cables needed. Although it might seem too expensive at first, the maintenance will be cheaper than now, and after this invention is finished I believe it will bring enough profit to pay it all off. Rather than wasting our money on the expensive rockets we should invest on this new and better way of traveling to space.
Bibliography:
http://www.niac.usra.edu/files/library/meetings/annual/jun02/521Edwards.pdf
http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/technology/space_elevator_020327-2.html
http://researchweb.watson.ibm.com/nanoscience/nanotubes.html
Evelyn Gonzalez
ReplyDeletePeriod 4
The space elevator is expected to be a cable that stretches out into space. It is made up of carbon nanotube, the project of creating the space elevator is quite costly. At the price of $25/gram, the space elevator will cost around $20 million dollars. And that's just for the constuction of the space elevator. The cost for one elevator is $3000, for two elevators $1900, and for three elevators $1600. The space elevator will become one of NASA's greatest achievements.
Sources
http://www.spaceelavator.com
http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_elevator
Maria Belen Martinez
ReplyDeletePeriod: 4
For many the space elevator was a science fiction idea up until recently.
NASA, along with other organizations,have been working on developing an elevator that will lead right up to the Space Station. Instead of the brutal launching, the space elevator will allow smooth ride 62,000 feet up.
This will be possible thanks to stronger than steel carbon nanotubes, which are developing very quickly. Twenty tons of these carbon nanotube cables would be needed to cover the 62,000 feet ride. Small fibers of nanotubes would be laid side by side and interconnected.
This space elevator would be useful for taking large amounts of materials or objects, even people, up to the Space Station.
This project won't be cheap, since they say that around 5 billion dollars would be needed. Some scientists say the space elevator could be developed within 20 years, others say it will take longer. Either way they both agree that the space elevator will be available to us in our lifetime. No matter how long it takes, the space elevator would facilitate travel into space at a lower price than its alternative the rocket.
Michael Estevill-
ReplyDeletePeriod 7/Honors Biology,
The cost for this super elevator could be both bennificial and non-bennificial to our world's economy. The cost simply for construction alone could range from 15 to say 20 billion dollars which is more than we can afford especially in such bad economic times. Now this does not necissarily mean that it will not pay for itself in a given period of time. Currently we are paying about 10,000 dollars per pound to send people into space. With this elevator built the cost will plummit all the way down to nearly 100-400 dollars a pound. There is one major problem with having a giant elevator sticking out of your atmosphere and that is the dangers of deep space. I mean anywhere from solar radiation to small meteor showers. If any serious damage was to be done to the exterior of this structure, than the price to fix it properly would be unimaginable. These are all important things that factor into the total cost of building a space elevator.
http://www.howstuffworks.com/space-elevator.htm
Alejandro Blanco
ReplyDeletePeriod #2
When first designing a concept model for the space elevator, scientists ran into a problem, that was what to make this extraordinary project out of. Carbon nanotubes, "a material 100 times stronger than steel and as flexible as plastic", was chosen as one of the more feasible ideas for material usage. The next problem they ran into was how to build these nanotubes efficiently and effectively, unfortunately factors such as nanotubes being only a few centimeters long impede the continuation of this project. If these obstacles were to be overcome, the concept would then relate to that of a rope; scientists would braid together the nanotubes to form a long rope that could be anchored from space down to earth. All these factors change how difficult it will be to build an actual space elevator; one most think of factors such as reinforcement for nanotubes and pressure/temperature differences in the atmosphere. In all honesty, the plan for a space elevator may sound quite bizarre at first, but we were able to send astronauts to the moon in the 60's, with the technology we harness now we can accomplish anything.
Bonsor, Kevin How Space Elevators Will Work. Retrieved September 2,
2009, Web site: http://www.howstuffworks.com/space-
elevator.htm
Daniela Menendez
ReplyDeleteHonors Biology
Period 7
The space elevator will be 22,000 miles long. Nasa will need about 144,000 miles of carbon nanotubes to make this elevator possible. Carbon nanotubes are made entirely out of carbon. They are stronger then steal and are able to conduct electricity. Some scientist don't know if it is feasible to use them, because of the fact that the longest carbon nanotube made was only a few centimiters long. And to make a 144,000 miles of carbon nanotubes by solely joining them end to end is completly impractical. However, there are still scientist that like this idea and are hopefull to construct carbon nanotubes by using vandervells force (which is like magnatism) to create long sheets of nanotubes that are the thikness of a 1,000th of a hair.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnwZmWoymeI
http://www.physorg.com/news151938445.html
Monserrat Sierra (:
ReplyDeleteBiology Honors
Period 7
Space Elevator
Flown by Marshall Space Flight Center by NASA, space elevators are ribbons connected from the Earth to a counterweight in outer space. They are made from an advance carbon nanotube, which is 100 times stronger than steel and just as flexible as plastic! The cable is 62,000 miles long, 3 feet wide, and thinner than paper and can hold up to 20 tons. The climbers are traveled electrically. The cable can be built two ways. Long carbon nanotubes -- several meters long or longer -- would be braided into a structure resembling a rope or shorter nanotubes could be placed in a polymer matrix.(How Stuff Works)Many are now transferring from rockets to the space elevator because it will reduce cost and many payloads can be made easily and safely. Although NASA is planning to retire it by 2010 and put it back up at the earliest in 2014 due to funds.
Sites Used
http://www.spaceelevator.com/
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/3401/02.html
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/3401/02-why-flash.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2UZDHHDhog
http://www.physorg.com/news151938445.html
Kevin Winslow
ReplyDeletePeriod 4 Honors Biology
The creation of the space elevator will greatly reduce the cost of getting from Earth to space. Building it will be expensive though. The elevator will be around 100,000 kilometers long and will cost about 10 billion dollars to build. We don't need the elevator at the moment but it would be nice to have it ASAP. The cost of the space elevator will be nowhere nearly as much if we continue launching rockets into space, which costs roughly 100 million dollars per launch. The elevator will also be much safer than rockets. If the project is started now, it will take ten years to finish and will be the tallest structure on the Earth.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/3401/02.html
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/916/1
The Space Elevator would ascend and descend down a 100,00 km long ribbon using laser beam power. Construction of this massive lift would take 10 years and cost 10 billion dollars to complete. Traveling from Earth to orbit in space would be $100/lb. There is a one week ascent time from Earth to the Moon. The lift would lift 1500 tons per year and the lift could be used for commercial access. Carbon Nanotubes are allotropes of carbon with a cylindrical nanostructure. They have extraordinary strength and unique electrical properties, and are efficient conductors of heat.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.pa.msu.edu/cmp/csc/ntproperties/
http://wiki.spaceelevator.com/
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