Japanese scientists are working together to develop the first space elevator in the world. They are turning fiction into reality. It will consist of strong cables and will be lighter than any other fibre and will reach up to a satellite docking station located in the geosynchronous orbit situated above the Earth.

The space elevator will carry people, casks consisting of radioactive waste and massive solar-powered generators. Shuichi Ono, chairman of the Japan Space Elevator Association said that riding the elevator into space will be quite similar to traveling abroad. This vision of the Japanese scientists has attracted the attention of government and world organizations as well as Nasa.

Much competition is there among space elevator projects who are vying with each other to provide practical carriages, tethers and hundreds of parts essential to implement the plan.

The concept of a space elevator does not affect the laws of science. Japan is quite sure that its industrial and academic base can solve complex engineering problems that may arise. The elevator would cost trillion yen (5 billion pounds).

The cable needs to be exceptionally light, very strong and be able to withstand projectiles thrown at it from outside and inside.

Source:TOI,September 23 2008