I made a new loop for the centrifugal apparatus (see previous posts tagged: string) made from outdoor extension cord. Nice round cross-section, high density, not too stiff. It worked much better. With the greater weight, the loop was more stable, and didn't require a backing pinch roller or the teflon side guards. I got a distinct difference ( Read more... )

I gotta find the original paper on this :)

http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/04/japanese-scientists-make-breakthrough-in-space-based-laser-power/

I was flipping through the Edmund Scientific Catalog recently when I saw this ( Read more... )

From slashdot ( Read more... )

The NOVA program about the space elevator - featuring the Elevator Games - airs this Tuesday, January 9 at 8pm on PBS (check local listing). According to Joe the producer, I've got a bit in the beginning of the section on the competition:)

I'm glad to be back in Maryland. Work is going ok; the major report that I frantically finished before I left has drawn good comments from the higher-ups, and my space elevator adventures may get published in ARLinside and the Army's RDECOM newsletter ( Read more... )

Lots of updates on the Starclimber blog at

http://www.mnkscientific.com/blog/

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My laptop computer power cord melted at exactly the wrong time, so I wasn't able to blog or check email or post pictures for the week I was down in Las Cruces. It will likely take me a while to catch up on everything I missed. Typing my adventures out chronologically now seems silly, so I'll put in this post what's most immediately important and ( Read more... )

The Aerovator is a theoretical structure for launching payloads into Earth orbit and beyond. It consists of a long (1000km) ribbon rotating around a central hub on the Earth's surface. Aerodynamic lift elevates the tips of the ribbon above the atmosphere, allowing the outer parts to attain orbital velocity in near vacuum ( Read more... )