The Space Elevator Blog by SpaceRef

NASA Announces 2009 Power Beaming and Tether Challenges

NASA today posted this notice. I'm not sure if the venue has been officially secured yet but here's what was released:

NOTICE: (09-012).
ACTION: Notice of Centennial Challenges 2009 Power Beaming and Tether Challenges.

SUMMARY: This notice is issued in accordance with 42 U.S.C. 2459f-1(d). The 2009 Power Beaming and Tether Challenges are now scheduled and teams that wish to compete may now register. The NASA Centennial Challenges Program is a program of prize contests to stimulate innovation and competition in space exploration and ongoing NASA mission areas. The 2009 Power Beaming Challenge is a prize contest designed to promote the development of new power distribution technologies. The 2009 Tether Challenge is a prize contest designed to develop very strong tether material for use in various structural applications. The Spaceward Foundation is administering both Challenges for NASA.

- Complete release here.

2009 Space Elevator Games Update

Word has it that perhaps within a week or two there might be some important news about this years Space Elevator Games. While a firm date has not been set, the target is for April 29th as the beginning day of competition at Cape Canaveral, Florida. So if this is an event you really want to go to I suggest you make plans accordingly to be there.

The image below was provided by the Spaceward Foundation who organize the competition. With multiple lasers pointing at the Space Elevator climbers tethered by a stationary helicopter the climbers will be racing up the 1-km tether for the $1.1 million grand prize. To win the grand prize one of the current 11 competing teams will have to climb the 1 kilometer vertical distance at a minimum average of 5 meters per second.

The New Space Elevator Reference Launched

A new collaborative Space Elevator Reference site was born today and the previous site, this one, is now the Space Elevator Blog.

The Space Elevator Reference is now running on the open source MindTouch Deki platform allowing us to create an incredible rich wiki mashup service.

With the new site we're launching the Space Elevator Open Wiki and the Space Elevator Developer Wiki.

Each wiki has the latest and best collaborative wiki mashup tools available including:

Document creation and live multi-developer editing
Spreadsheet creation and live multi-developer editing
Whiteboards
Chat
Math, Graphviz extensions and access to more than 100 web-services to dozens of providers pre-configured, including: Microsoft Windows Live, Amazon, Google, Yahoo, Widgetbox etc.

The Space Elevator Reference also provides the following services: A calendar of events, news from around the web and space elevator blogs, list of organizations and companies working on the space elevator, social networks, chat, image galleries and video galleries.

It's up to you to take the Space Elevator from concept to reality so join the Space Elevator Reference now.

EuroSpaceward Releases Conference Flyer and Spaceward Games Update

Markus Klettner at EuroSpaceward has released the flyer for the 2nd International Conference On Space Elevator & Carbon Nanotube Tether Design being held on the 6th and 7th December in Luxembourg.

Flyer cover page
Flyer inside page

Distribute them far and wide.

In other conference news the Spaceward Games which includes the tether and power beaming challenges has been pushed back to early next year, most likely in February as a suitable venue is currently under discussion with the contract details being worked out. If all goes well the Spaceward Games of 2009 will be an event not to be missed.

True Mechanical Properties of Carbon Nanotubes Measured

Of interest to our readers is the following from Northwestern University: True properties of carbon nanotubes measured

"Carbon nanotubes' atomic structure should, in theory, give them mechanical and electrical properties far superior to most common materials. Unfortunately, theory and experiments have failed to converge on the true mechanical properties of carbon nanotubes. Northwestern University researchers recently made the first experimental measurements of the mechanical properties of carbon nanotubes that directly correspond to the theoretical predictions. They used a nanoscale material testing system based on MEMS technology."

Teaser Screenshot of New Space Elevator Reference Site

As many of you know I've been working on a new updated version of the Space Elevator Reference which I hope to launch this month. Today I'll provide a teaser screenshot of the developing home page of the new site.

The new site will provide the following services:

1. Collaborative Space Elevator Open Wiki
- Including Reference Documents and Research Papers
2. Collaborative Space Elevator Developer Wiki
3. Calendar of Events
4. Space Elevator Blogs and latest entries
5. Organizations Working on the Space Elevator
6. Image Galleries
7. Video Galleries

Since the new site is based on the Mindtouch DekiWiki platform it provides a great set of mashup tools and DekiScript scripting language allowing me to incorporate data from many sources. Some of the services provided may be done in collaboration with other sites and I am open to more partnerships.

Thoughts After the 4th Space Elevator Conference

I was very encouraged to learn that there seems to be some momentum building from the recent 4th Space Elevator Conference.

An impressive group of individuals representing a variety of interests appear ready to come together to create an organization to serve as a coalescing force for those interested in working on the scientific, engineering, economic and policy challenges inherent in constructing the solar system's first space elevator.

While individuals may be pursuing their specific interest in the space elevator, this potential new organization will put forward a united force to disseminate information that is both factual and timely. What's more, by organizing the various challenges ahead this organization will be providing an roadmap of what is being worked on, by whom, what needs to be done etc.

Foreign interest in the space elevator is also growing as was demonstrated at the conference with the strong presence of the Japanese primarily represented by the Japanese Space Elevator Association (JSEA). And in fact JSEA will be holding it's first conference on November 16th and 17th.

Interest in Europe is ongoing with with the 2nd European Space Elevator & CNT Tether Design Conference being held in Luxembourg on December 6th and 7th.

With a new organization in the works several social networking tools will be used to help the organization. There is now a Space Elevator Architect LinkedIn group created, a Twitter channel and I've created a new Facebook group for the organization. This new group, temporarily called the International Space Elevator Facebook group will evolve as the organization is formed and grows. For now I invite you to join this new group.

Space Elevator Conference Underway

Today was the first day of the 2008 Space Elevator Conference in Redmond, Washington at the Microsoft Conference Centre.

I spoke with Brad Edwards briefly today who informed me there was a good crowd assembled this morning, most likely at least 60 people for the first few talks. There seems to be a lot of interest from Japan right now according to Brad.

Ted Semon over at the Space Elevator Blog has been covering the conference in person and you can keep up to date with events during the day through our Twitter Channel.

As well there seems to be some good media reports out today. They include;

Local coverage from Kiro TV, Elevator To Space More Than Just An Idea, and Alan Boyle of Cosmic Log fame, Will the Space Elevator Rise?, and from the SeattlePI, There's no stairway to heavens? Take the elevator, and this story from Network World, Going up: Slow progress on 'space elevator'.

Unfortunately I won't be able to attend any of the conference due to a very important family commitment. However I am working with several people including Brad Edwards on the upcoming re-launch of the new Space Elevator Reference, so stay tuned.

I look forward to hearing what progress has been made by the various groups through my contacts.

One last note, a couple of days The Independent newspaper out of the U.K. had a great writeup on the new novel coming out from Sir Arthur C. Clarke, The Last Theorem. It was finished by eminent author Frederik Pohl and includes a space elevator. One last plug for the space elevator from Sir Arthur.

Space Elevator Reference Volunteers Needed

This coming weekend is the 2008 Space Elevator Conference being held at the Microsoft Conference Center in Redmond, WA. I'm hoping to attend at least part of the conference, Saturday afternoon through Sunday. However because of family commitments I am unsure If I will be able to make it.

If I am there, I would like to meet with anyone who is interested in taking the Space Elevator Reference to a whole new level. I've had some great volunteers contact me so far but I'm sure I'll need more. And because of family commitments I've been delayed in deploying the new site. The server is now ready and with some final touches the site will be ready to launch within a week.

Marc

The Space Elevator Reference Has a New Logo and Will be Upgrading Soon

A big thank you goes out to Kimball Clark of Eagle Gate College in Utah who contacted me with the idea of having his graphic design class create a new brand identity for the Space Elevator Reference.

The class submitted many great logos but the one below and which now graces this site was selected by myself and my business partner Keith Cowing. The logo selected was created by Joanne Chournos who is available for freelance work. If you need Joanne's services please contact me, her rates are very reasonable.

In other news the Space Elevator Reference will be changing it's format in the coming months. When I first started this site it was with the intent to collect and disseminate resources that would help the community in its goal in making the concept of a Space Elevator a reality.

With that in mind the site will be changing it's current format which is more news oriented with some reference material to a wiki/mashup platform allowing for greater participation and dissemination of reference material. I anticipate having the site online before the upcoming Space Elevator Conference. So at this time I'm asking for volunteers to step forward in helping create the new Space Elevator Reference.

If you're familiar with Wikipedia then you get the idea of what the Space Elevator will become. However since we're using a combination wiki/mashup platform we'll be able to offer services than a standard wiki.

So please, if you're interested in helping the Space Elevator get built please contact me.

Marc Boucher
marc.boucher < AT > spaceref.com

Space Elevator Conference Web Site

The 2008 Space Elevator Conference will take place between July 18-20 in Redmond, Washington home of Microsoft who are the title sponsors. The organizers are currently putting a call out for papers so now is the time to get involved and have your ideas heard and discussed. Don't miss this opportunity to get involved and meet your colleagues.

Conference web site: http://spaceelevatorconference.org/

Sir Arthur C. Clarke has Died

It is with a heavy heart I write that Sir Arthur C. Clarke has died. He died early Wednesday at a hospital in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

I had the privilege to meet Sir Arthur in 1997 in Sri Lanka, his home of 52 years. His creative mind inspired many people including myself. He will be missed but his creativity will live on through the people he inspired.

When I met him in 1997 it was for a variety of reason. One of them was to talk about the space elevator. He was so excited to talk about it. We met the at Colombo Swimming Club, he was just finishing up a swim and we had lunch. He was 79 at the time and his mind was as sharp as ever. When we sat down for lunch he presented me with a stack of material he had collected for me on the space elevator. I was astounded that he should do this for me. But this was the nature of Sir Arthur. He was a kind and giving man who would regale you with stories at every opportunity. I enjoyed my brief visit with him.

In 2002 through my work in the high arctic at the Haughton-Mars Project my SpaceRef business partner and I donated a greenhouse and I, with Sir Arthur's permission, named it the Arthur Clarke Mars Greenhouse. The greenhouse now hosts a variety of research which will help future space explorers.

He was widely known as a premier science fiction writer and famous for his collaboration with Stanley Kubrick in taking his book 2001: A Space Odyssey to Hollywood. But he had many other accomplishments as well including a 1945 technical paper setting out the principles of satellite communication with satellites in geostationary orbits, something which would become a reality 25 years later.

But for those his read this blog Sir Arthur is best known for his book The Fountains of Paradise where popularized the concept of the Space Elevator and his 1981 technical paper The Space Elevator: 'Thought Experiment', or Key to the Universe?.

Today teams of scientists and engineers are working on making the Space Elevator a reality. Should this dream be realized it will mostly be attributed to Sir Arthur, and rightly so.

Marc Boucher

The Space Elevator Reference Launches the Twitter Community

Today the Space Elevator Reference is starting to use one of the hottest social networking services, Twitter. If you're not familiar with Twitter, it's a social networking microblogging service. We've created a Space Elevator Twitter channel where the community can share what they're doing, called tweets in Twitter speak.

For more information on this new community service please visit the Space Elevator Twitter Community page.

Besides myself, Ted Semon of the Space Elevator Blog fame has agreed to have his blog posts appear in the Space Elevator Twitter channel so you can keep up to date with all those golden nuggets he finds.

Marc Boucher

2008 Space Elevator Conference Announced

I received this yesterday from Bryan Laubscher. This is great news and I hope to attend however I may be in the high arctic at the Mars Institute HMP Research Station at that time.

I'll post more details as they arrive.

I wanted to give all of you an early announcement for the 2008 Space Elevator Conference. We have not had a Space Elevator “only” conference for 4 years.
This year the conference will be in Redmond, WA and will begin on Friday July 18th and will conclude on Sunday July 20th.

Please begin the process of spreading the word to your colleagues and Space Elevator contacts. The exact venue will be announced soon as will a suggested hotel in which to lodge.

Sincerely,
Bryan

On Orbit Launches with new Space Elevator Forum

SpaceRef Interactive Inc. the company that owns and operates this site today launched a new social space news and networking service called On Orbit.

For space elevator enthusiasts and professionals the service includes a Forum dedicated to the Space Elevator. Notable space elevator figures including but not limited to Spaceward's Ben Shelef and Brad Edwards will be contributing to the forum.