Chapter 14: Summary

Since its conception in 1960, the space elevator has appeared primarily in science fiction and concept overviews. With this manuscript we have attempted to present a complete quantitative analysis of the problems that will be encountered designing, constructing, deploying and utilizing a space elevator. We have started with the basic concept and existing technologies and put forth a system design and deployment scenario. We have addressed the environmental problems this system must survive and what will happen if it does come down. We have presented one possible deployment schedule and a cost breakdown based primarily on existing systems. We have presented the design trade-offs and how the space elevator could be utilized. What we have found is that an extremely valuable space elevator can be built in the near future with acceptable risk and less funding than some current space programs.

This manuscript is not intended to be the final word on any aspect of the space elevator. It is intended to be a starting point. The next stage is not to form large design committees but to get armies of graduate students and researchers examining each individual aspect of the scenario we have presented. Carbon nanotube composites, meteor impacts, weather, orbital mechanics of the deployment, induced oscillations from every source, power beaming, on-orbit operations, electric propulsion, atomic oxygen, nanotube and epoxy coating, climber design, cable spooling and cable design all need to be studied and can be done by many small programs. Once the individual efforts have produced the needed information, a technically-driven, fiscallyresponsible team of committed individuals can be formed to build the space elevator. With a concerted and objective effort we could begin construction of the space elevator in the coming decade.

With the construction of multiple space elevators we would see the beginning of new commercial markets, new resources and possibly a true space-fairing society. Just as the transistor was the first small step in the current computer age, the space elevator may be the step that takes our children to the stars.