Home > News > Nanotubes could link elevator to space
January 29th, 2007
Nanotubes could link elevator to space
Abstract:
Forget bone-jarring lift-offs and clunky space shuttles: the trip to space may soon be as smooth as a ride up a long elevator, thanks in part, to the work of UTD scientists.
Ray Baughman, director of the NanoTech Institute, recently discussed the possibility of building an elevator to space on the science show "NOVA," which aired on PBS in January.
"It's a dream of the future, but it's an achievable dream," Baughman said.
A space elevator, a 22,000 mile-long cable from the earth to outer space, could make this dream a reality.
For a space elevator to function, a cable with one end attached to the Earth's surface stretches upwards, reaching beyond the Earth's gravitational pull at 21,700 miles. After that, simple physics takes charge.
Source:
utdmercury.com
Bookmark:
Interviews/Book Reviews/Essays/Reports/Podcasts/Journals
A Battery Made of Wood? Wood fibers help nano-scale batteries keep their structure June 19th, 2013
Less is More: Novel Cellulose Structure Requires Fewer Enzymes to Process Biomass to Fuel June 19th, 2013
Production of Bioactive Material for Quick Treatment of Bone Damages June 19th, 2013
Pioneering breakthrough of chemical nanoengineering to design drugs controlled by light June 18th, 2013
Aerospace/Space
'Popcorn' particle pathways promise better lithium-ion batteries June 11th, 2013
Space Solar Power: Key to a Livable Planet Earth June 10th, 2013
Researchers enlist Cameca Nanosims Microprobe to determine origins of lunar water: Microprobes's results indicate water on Earth and Moon has similar origin June 4th, 2013
National Space Society Report On Annual Conference June 3rd, 2013
Human Interest/Art
Yes, nanoscience can enhance humans – but ethical guidelines must be agreed: People 'enhanced' into spider-climbing individuals with hugely projected breasts and Einstein-brains… Where will it stop? June 5th, 2013
Heinrich Rohrer dies at 79; a father of nanotechnology: With IBM colleague Gerd Binnig, Rohrer invented the scanning tunneling microscope, which can show individual atoms on a surface and move them around May 23rd, 2013
Oh, Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree: A nano end for Christmas tree needles January 2nd, 2013
INIC Inks MoU to Apply Nanotechnology in Iran's Carpet Industry December 18th, 2012