Elevators to space

Space elevators as a means of conquering space

                                                                          Introduction

We all know about the elevators that are found in tall buildings that enable us to climb to the upper floors, which used to require a lot of physical and strenuous effort from humans in the past. Here, some of us may have a question: Is it possible to make elevators that enable us to go out into space like elevators that enabled us to climb easily in tall buildings, with a difference in the way they work and the technology used?

In this article, we will answer this question and say:

* First, since the launch of the Columbia spacecraft in 1981, more than 100 space missions have been launched so far, with the cost of transportation reaching about $ 22,000 per kilogram. Despite the success of spacecraft, space missions are still few and expensive, with the cost of one mission reaching about a billion dollars. The transition from the world of science fiction to the world of scientific reality began with the development of a new system for space transportation by designing an elevator that carries about 13 tons into space.

*The reason for thinking about creating a space elevator

The main reason for encouraging scientists to create a space elevator is the discovery of carbon nanotubes in 1991.

Nanotubes are considered a hundred times stronger than steel and at the same time more flexible than plastic.

*Components of the space elevator and its mechanism of operation.

- The space elevator will be made of carbon nanotubes that will be braided together to create a metal strip (a few centimeters wide and as thick as paper) used in the ascent and descent of the automated elevators that will carry cargo as well as humans into space. These carbon tubes will be connected to a marine platform and extend to a balancing mass 100 thousand kilometers away in space where this balancing mass revolves around the Earth in order to keep the metal strip always straight, which allows the automated elevators to ascend and descend in a safe and sound manner.

- The elevator will get its energy from a free electron laser system located on or near the docking station. The laser sends 4.2 megawatts of energy to cells capable of producing electrical voltage when exposed to radiated energy. They are installed in the elevator, where this voltage is used by electric motors responsible for the movement of the elevator.

* Gains from using space elevators.

- Reducing space transportation costs

The use of space elevators will reduce the cost of transportation to between 220 and 880 dollars per kilogram. This cost is very low when compared to the cost of transporting one kilogram for space vehicles.

- Continuous flights throughout the year.

These space elevators will make their flights daily, which helps in smoothing and facilitating space trips after they were arduous and required a lot of time, effort and money to implement a single space trip. It will also be the right of any person to travel to space, whether for tourism and enjoyment or for scientific study of space, after it was limited to a certain group of scientists.

* Obstacles to implementing the idea of ​​space elevators.

These obstacles are simply that these elevators need long carbon nanotubes that help to braid them together to make the metal strip on which the automated elevators will move up and down, but so far scientists have not been able to reach these specifications with carbon tubes. 

                                                                 Conclusion  

The possibility of creating space elevators is not something difficult or impossible to implement, but there is a possibility, and very soon, when scientists are able to produce longitudinal carbon tubes, and with the current possibility of making the other parts of the space elevator with longitudinal carbon tubes, such as the robotic elevator, the anchor station, and the support force system, which depend on the currently known technologies in their creation.

Of course, the risks that elevators will be exposed to, such as changing weather factors and satellite debris in space, will also be studied until we achieve safe space travel.