On July 21 Thoth Technology, a Canadian space and defense company, was granted a US patent for a space elevator. This freestanding structure would stand 20 km (12 miles) high, and be used for ‘wind-energy generation, communications and tourism,’ said Thoth in its blog.
Ditching Rockets
Space elevators certainly aren’t a new concept. Russian scientists have been exploring the idea of space elevators since 1895. It is important to note that this structure isn’t a literal elevator leading straight to space. The idea is that the elevated launch platform will reduce fuel costs, and make traveling to space much more routine than the dramatic launches we have now. According to Thoth, the proposed technology could save up to 30 percent of the fuel it typically takes to get spacecraft into space. Unfortunately, the patent doesn’t go into much detail on how exactly it plans to do this aside from simply skipping over those first twelve miles. The patent says that the space elevator will use “gravity-defying technologies,” but as CNET’s Erik Mack discusses, “Technically speaking, getting to space hasn’t become any easier over the past half century or so. It still requires using huge rockets to create a massive enough amount of force to push a payload beyond the grip of Earth’s gravity.” Learning what technologies Thoth has developed should prove interesting.
Objectives
The space elevator will be using modular tubes of Kevlar polyethylene composites filled with pressurized gas (helium). These tubes are light enough that the helium actually helps keep the space elevator stable. This essentially allows the launch pad to stay elevated while allowing the base of the structure to ‘guide’ it. Dr. Brendan Quine, the inventor, says, “Astronauts would ascend 20 km by electrical elevator. From the top of the tower, space planes will launch in a single stage to orbit, returning to the top of the tower for refueling and reflight.”
Looking to the Future
NASA is currently working on its largest rocket to date to reach Mars, so it’s interesting to see other companies exploring alternative options that might lead to lower cost mission later down the road. Thoth President and CEO Caroline Roberts believes the space elevator will introduce a new era of space transportation, but we’ll be waiting with bated breath until then.
