Backers Propose X-Prize Style Contest To Develop Space Elevator

Going up?

Taking its lead from the successful Ansari X-Prize, folks who'd very much like to see an elevator extended as high as 62,000 miles plan a little competition of their own. It's called "Elevator: 2010" and its designed to provoke interest and generate prototypes of a technology that could revolutionize the commercialization of space.

"We firmly believe that the set of technologies that underlie the infinite promise of the space elevator can be demonstrated, or proven infeasible, within a five-year time frame," says a statement from the organization. "And hence our name. Elevator:2010. We promise to get an answer for you by then."

The idea is to start out small. Instead of an elevator reaching 62,000 miles into the sky, the first attempts in the competition would be to put an elevator cab (called a "climber") at the top of a 200-foot tall ribbon. A subsequent contest would focus on the strength of the ribbons themselves. A third might focus on the light amplification technology which could power the climber, according to Elevator:2010 supporters.

Ben Shelef, who works with Elevator:2010, says the first competition should get off the ground in June or July of next year and will probably be held in San Francisco (CA).

"We've gotten feedback from the universities, so we know it's feasible," Shelef said. "It's the same thing as the solar cars, but on steroids." He was quoted by MSNBC.

The purse? Shelef said his group wants to offer more than the $10 million grand prize that will go to winners of the X-Prize competition.

That may not be enough to attract those already working on the feasibility of a space elevator. Take Michael Laine, for instance. His company, the LiftPort Group, may not participate in coming Elevator:2010 events, regardless of the purse.

What they're proposing is going to be technically challenging, but just like the solar cars, it can only do good things. It can only help move things forward," he told MSNBC. "But how much am I going to put into the competition? I don't know yet. I haven't balanced that out. The robot that we have built is very different from what it will take to win the competition.

"The robot that they're looking for in their competition is going to be much bigger than my robot," he continued. "At some point I'm going to have to balance what's commercially viable for my company versus my really strong desire to win."

But the payoff is tantalizing. The cost per pound to put something or someone into space could drop from $10,000 to just $100. Or so proponents tell us.

Building a space elevator is beyond current technology. The ribbon -- the track into space -- will have to be exceptionally strong. Right now, something called a carbon nanotube is the favorite material of theorists working on the space elevator concept. Then there's the energy it will take to power a climber up the ribbon (see how contagious the jargon can be?). Finally, you have to consider the technology and the cost of actually building a space elevator.

But backers like Laine are confident that the ground-bound world will see the light and will warm to the idea of a space elevator. Certainly, the promise of payloads that cost 1/100th of the current price-to-orbit is a huge incentive.

FMI: www.elevator2010.org