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Space Elevators
Some guys out there are making their best efforts to build space elevator robots for the ultimate challenge in hi-tech design. The Spaceward Foundation and NASA’s October 21 First Annual Space Elevator Competition is spurring design teams to push the limits of both their robots and the super-strong, carbon nanotube-based ribbons that are key to supporting them. The competition consists in making an autonomous vehicle that can climb up using a ribbon as guide, lifting about 25 kg (50 lbs) at 1 m/s for 65 mt (200 ft) powered by a 10 kWatt light beam. The project is looking forward to continue increasing the speed and length of the climb for next years' competitions, in order to develop a commercially viable stable system for 2010. Read More |