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1
THe Space Elevator concept
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Overview

• Description of the system
• Technology
• Infrastructure
• Risks
• Conclusion

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What is a space elevator ?

• Physical connection from Earth to the
  geostationary Earth orbit
• Objective
• Transport people
• Payloads
• Power
• Gases

4
A more precise look

• Different parts
• Geostationary transfer station
• Base station
• Electromagnetic vehicles
• Counterweight
• Spheres

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Issues

• Not feasible today
• Highest structure 630 meters high
• Advantages
• easy
• cheap
• Not really a new idea

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Technology

• Materials
• gaphite epoxy composite
• used in aerospace
• not strong enough
• carbon nanotubes
• 100 times stronger than steel
• not producible yet
• Tests on the ISS

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Infrastructure

• Total length 144 000 km
• Earth-moon 385 000 km
• Tower on earth
• Propulsion
• mechanical 12 days of travel
• electromagnetic 10 hours

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Electromagnetic vehicles

• Electromagnetic rail
• Energy saving

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Funny idea

• Launch arch
• Tall towers
• 15 km high
• Electromagnetic rail
• Propel vehicles nearly out of the Earth atmosphere

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Lets summarize

• 24 hour orbit
• Platform on Earth
• Space elevator vehicles
• Structure made of nanotubes

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Adjustments

• System of cables
• An asteroid !

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Risks

• What about collisions?
• asteroids
• space debris
• Maintenance on the elevator

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Other projects

• Lunar space elevator

• Mars space elevator transportation system

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Conclusion

• A not so far future
• 20 years ?
• Main objective profits
• A lot more to say about
• safety, environment
• A great idea to dream about

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Any question?