NASA is to provide $400,000 prize money for a series of competitions designed to spur development of space elevator systems. The US space agency is backing the Elevator: 2010 project launched last year by the Spaceward Foundation with the first funds from the Centennial Challenge programme managed by its exploration systems mission directorate.
With the first competitions planned for September, Spaceward is seeking a major corporate sponsor. Two annual competitions are planned: the tether challenge will involve high-strength materials for the elevator ribbon, and the beam power challenge will focus on wireless power transmission systems for the robotic climbers.
Winners of the initial 2005 challenges will each get $50,000 in NASA prize money. The tether challenge will involve stretching a 2.5m-long, 200mm-wide loop of ribbon weighing no more than 2.5g, with the winner demonstrating a strength/weight ratio at least 50% better than Honeywell's Spectra fibre, which is the reference tether. Spaceward hopes to achieve at least a 50% increase each year.
For the initial climber competition, Spaceward will provide the beam source – a 10kW xenon searchlight providing about 500W of power – and a crane-suspended 60m-long ribbon, roughly 300mm wide by 1mm thick. The fixed power means teams will compete to minimise the weight of the climber so as to be capable of ascending the ribbon at 1m/s, with 25kg as the goal.
The 2006 climber contest will be more challenging, with NASA offering $100,000, $40,000 and $10,000 for first, second and third place, respectively. Climber weight will be limited to 25kg and minimum ascent speed will be 1m/s. Teams will be required to demonstrate beam tracking and climber attitude control, but will be allowed to use multiple beams to increase power density. Spaceward plans a 2007 competition that will double the minimum speed and quadruple the ribbon length, and plans for a 2008 competition call for a 1km-long ribbon and 4m/s ascent speed.
GRAHAM WARWICK/WASHINGTON DC
Source: Flight International
