Space, The Final Frontier

Up In A Space Elevator

Back in the days when I first started blogging, one of the main interest areas for me was space exploration that actually had a commercial basis. This led to extensive blogging about the Space-X prize and the first private enterprise party to get to space. We (it was a collective blog back then) also thought that Australia should look at Space Exploration more seriously.

Another line of interest was the Space Elevator - so much so that one of my co-bloggers at the time 'db' went and joined a consortium called LiftPort who were trying to promote the idea and technologies it would require to build.

So in memory of those times, I want to link to this article today.

AUSTRALIA could play a key role in the 21st century space race, with competition heating up between Japan and the US to build the world's first "space elevator".
As the technology required to create a physical link between Earth and outer space becomes closer to a reality, discussions of next-generation space exploration have been given new life.

Japan announced recently that it was researching plans to build a space elevator – a link to space that could transport cargo and even tourists – for as little as 1 trillion yen ($11 billion).

"Just like travelling abroad, anyone will be able to ride the elevator into space," chairman of the Japan Space Elevator Association, Shuichi Ono, told The Times.

The news is believed to have shaken up scientists at NASA, who have traditionally focused on rockets to reach space but could now be considering following Japan's suit.

The deal for Australia clearly is to join JAXA's bid to build the space elevator.  The reason the NASA boffins are a little surprised is that they have so much invested in rocketry and the shuttle that they're going to find it hard to switch from that line of technology to a space elevator.

As previously researched in many other studis, the Indian Ocean, about 900km turns out to be an optimal place to build the Earth-side platform. The other various reasons listed in the article are nice, but bottom line is, any Federal Government in Australia really ought to look at getting Australia back in the space exploration business.