A Japanese team of researchers will carry out the first test on the feasibility of space elevators this month, taking the futuristic concept from science fiction into reality.
The space elevator concept was formulated as a possible alternative to rockets to get people into space, as rocket launches are expensive and pollute the atmosphere. Will space elevators be the next big thing in space travel?
What Are Space Elevators?
The idea of the space elevator was first proposed in 1895 by Konstantin Tsiolkovsky after the Russian scientist saw the Eiffel Tower in Paris. He believed that a similar structure could be built high enough to take passengers up to space.
The concept has since appeared in various science fiction books and movies, but it was Russian engineer Yuri Artsutanov who first studied the feasibility of space elevators in real life.
Space elevators, ideally, will need to have a cable tethered to Earth, likely near the equator to lower the risk of being damaged by hurricanes or tornadoes, and to a stationary mass in space, such as the International Space Station. The connection will allow electromagnetic vehicles to ride up to space, taking workers and equipment into orbit. It will also be a much cheaper option for space tourists, compared to riding on a rocket-powered spacecraft.
There are many challenges to making space elevators in real life though. No material has been found to be strong enough for the cable, and the effects on the human body of riding an elevator up into space remains uncertain.
Space Elevator Test In Japan
A team of researchers from Shizuoka University will be the first to conduct an experiment to test the feasibility of space elevators, taking into consideration all the challenges that are hindering the concept.
The space elevator experiment, however, will not be in full scale, nor will it transport a living human to space. Instead, a rocket that will be launched by Japan's space agency on Sept. 11 will have a miniature version of a space elevator as one of its passengers.
The miniature space elevator stand-in will measure just 6 centimeters long, 3 centimeters wide, and 3 centimeters high. The researchers will observe how it will move in space along a 10-meter cable that will connect two small satellites.
"It's going to be the world's first experiment to test elevator movement in space," said a spokesman for Shizuoka University.
In 2014, Japanese construction firm Obayashi said that it will build a space elevator by 2050. The company is collaborating with Shizuoka University for the project, as it races to keep its promise.
