A space elevator, also called a space bridge, star ladder, or orbital lift, is a proposed type of planet-to-space transportation system, often depicted in science fiction. The main component of a space elevator would be a cable anchored to the surface and extending into space.
Futuristic Japan is planning one for the year 2050. Obayashi Corporation aims to connect Earth to space with an 80,000 mile cable made from carbon nanotubes (CNTs) allowing 30 passengers to be launched into space at about 150mph, getting them to a space station in about a week.
The discovery of CNTs by a Japanese engineer in 1991 has pushed this vision forward, with potential launches of the construction project to begin as early as next year. Japan is not the first to come up with the idea of a space elevator.
In 1895, Konstantin Tsiolkovsky proposed to build a space elevator that could reach from Earth into space; it never got off the ground, but in 1957 another Russian – Yuri Artsutanov – came up with a more plausible idea. It wasn’t built either, but he had a chance to judge a team of Israeli students who were tackling the concept anew.
In Japan, the the space elevator construction would be multi-stage process with materials transported via rocket to low Earth orbit where a spaceship will use electric propulsion to ascend to geostationary Earth orbit.
One of the significant advantages of the space elevator, says the Obayashi Corporation is its cost-effectiveness and sustainability. Traditional rocket launches are expensive and polluting. Each launch could cost just a few thousand dollars, making space access more affordable and frequent. This project aligns with Japan’s goals for carbon neutrality by 2050, providing a greener alternative to current space travel technologies.
Maybe they can figure out a way to get space junk out of orbit at the same time.
Obayashi Corporation is one of five major Japanese construction companies along with Shimizu Corporation, Takenaka Corporation, Kajima Corporation, and Taisei Corporation. It is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and is one of the Nikkei 225 corporations. Its headquarters are in Minato, Tokyo.
