The concept of a space elevator has been around for over a century, originating in 1895 with a Russian scientist, Konstantin Tsiolkovsky. The idea is that, rather than using the stored explosive energy of rocket fuel to lift objects into orbit, a structure would be built with its lower end on the ground and its upper end high above the planet — preferably in orbit itself. The orbital payload could then be lifted up the structure and released at the top; potentially reducing the cost of space launches by a huge factor. It’s always been seen as extremey fanciful, but recently a Canadian company called Thoth Technology patented a design for a 12.4-mile high inflatable structure topped with a runway for spaceplane-type craft to take off and land. While not the full orbital elevator concept as envisioned by Tsiolkovsky, it would still cut launch costs by about a third, Thoth claims.
We’ve assembled a panel of experts to answer your questions about this intriguing and ambitious technology. What are the materials challenges of building such a structure? What forces will it have to endure? How will the elevator itself work? Send us your questions by 5pm on Thursday 24th September, and we’ll publisjh answers to a selection of questions in our next issue and online.
Promoted content: Does social media work for engineers – and how can you make it work for you?
So in addition to doing their own job, engineers are expected to do the marketing department´s work for them as well? Sorry, wait a minute, I know the...