Welcome to the

October 2020 Edition

of the ISEC Newsletter

In this Issue:

Editor’s Note

Space Elevator Conference Announcement

President’s Corner

71st International Astronautical Congress--The CyberSpace Edition

Architecture Note #33

The Nature of Change

Demand Pull

History Corner

Online Workshop for ISEC Members

Upcoming Events

Editor’s Note

Dear Fellow Space Elevator Enthusiast,

It’s going on right now! This is World Space Week! World Space Week is an annual holiday observed from 4 to 10 October in over 90 nations throughout the world. World Space Week is officially defined as, "an international celebration of science and technology, and their contribution to the betterment of the human condition."

ISEC’s contribution to this auspicious event is a webinar entitled: "Appropriate Space Access Architecture for Mars," on 10 October 2020 at 2 pm UTC. [Click this link to convert to your time zone.] This webinar will discuss the strengths of Dual-Space Access Architecture. This concept surfaced upon completion of the latest ISEC study: "Space Elevators are the Transportation Story of the 21st Century," available at www.isec.org under the RESOURCES tab as STUDIES.

Our annual Space Elevator Conference (SEC) was cancelled this year (I know--shocker!) but has been rescheduled! The International Space Elevator Consortium will be hosting the SEC immediately prior to the International Space Development Conference, (ISDC) sponsored by the National Space Society (NSS) next year in Los Angeles! See article, below, for more details.

Last month, I published part one of an article by David Raitt that contained fifteen links related to the space elevator culture. Part two is even longer and has 29 MORE links!

Enjoy!

Sandee Schaeffer

Newsletter Editor

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Announcement

by Pete Swan

Space Elevator Conference

The Board of Directors has approved our yearly Space Elevator Conference (SEC) for 2021 to be in concert with the National Space Society's International Space Development Conference (ISDC) at the Los Angeles Airport Sheraton.

Dates are all still to be determined, but scheduled as:

SEC: Tuesday, May 25th through Wednesday, May 26th

ISDC: Thursday, May 27th through Sunday, May 30th, 2021

Both events to be held at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel, Los Angeles, CA, USA

The concept is that ISEC will be a main participant in the NSS activities that week. Our own conference will be prior to the ISDC with exciting events covering two years’ progress, as we skipped 2020. A full day space elevator session inside the ISDC (current plan); participation with students; an ISEC exhibit in the main hall; and, learn about space activities outside space elevators. We are hoping to have a full conference on space elevators and then take that momentum into the NSS conference. Our conference themes will be focused on the Tether/Climber interface (our yearly study topic), Environmental Benefits of Space Elevators (2020 study to be complete by then), and another topic to be selected later.

Please block out on your calendar for the week of 25 May 2021, as a place to enjoy the full spectrum of space and movement off-planet discussions. I predict that the timing of this event will be remarkable.

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President's Corner

by Pete Swan

We are the Paradigm Pioneers

On Wednesday 9 September, I sat in and listened to a remarkable webinar. Bruce Pittman is currently working as a contractor in the Space Portal Office at the NASA Ames Research Center in the position of Chief System Engineer. His perception of current events inside the Space Program (mainly focused upon US) was portrayed by his presentation on the current paradigm shift occurring inside government and commercial space. I would like to borrow many of his words to illustrate the point that Space Elevators have a very good chance to fit into his vision of tomorrow through rapid and unexpected changes. To be fully truthful, he did not use the words Space Elevator, nor imply them, but I hope to show the application of his words when thinking permanent transportation to space. Several of his points are:

Technology Paradigm Shift using cargo as an example: sailing ships to steam to cargo carriers to DC-3s to FedEx.
Paradigm changes come about when:

1. A young person comes in and wonders

2. An older person shifts fields applying new approaches

3. Mavericks grow from an insider's view to find another way

Who does these changes? Paradigm Pioneers…one who "buys into" the new paradigm even before the proof is there to show the way forward

The reason to point out these insights is that there is change occurring inside the space programs as shown by commercial crew to space station and human landing system with three commercial companies. The reason I have chosen to discuss the topic of paradigm shift is I believe we are the forefront of another paradigm shift. With the huge demand for mass to the Moon and Mars and the remarkable vision to go in a permanent sense, there seems to be a huge demand for movement of cargo to support humans "out there." In that case, Space Elevators should be there in a Dual Space Access Architecture providing the answer to a new paradigm shift.

Keep Climbing!

Pete

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Register Now For the...

71st International Astronautical Congress--The Cyberspace Edition

There will be a rare opportunity to have “free access” to over 1600 space-oriented papers at the International Astronautical Congress (a yearly space congress for the world’s space players - this is the 71st.) They have a tremendous variety of space papers and presentations. You may access them if you register. The information is shown below. Now is the time to follow your curiosity about any space topic. D4.3 is the Space Elevator technical session [Entering the Space Elevator Era].

2020 International Astronautical Congress - CyberSpace Edition

The Premier Global Space Conference now is open to all.
Monday, October 12th through Wednesday, October 14th, 2020 For times, visit the website at https://iac2020.vfairs.com
Register at: https://iac2020.vfairs.com/en/registration

Search for Space Elevator Focused Session

D4-3 SESSION TITLE : ENTERING THE SPACE ELEVATOR ERA

Fast Transit to Interplanetary Destinations by Dr Pete Swan (ISEC, US)
Experimental Study on Heavy Load Climber Applying Hybrid Roller Mechanism for Small Manned Space Elevator by Ms. Momoe Terata (Shonan IoT, Japan) + others
Three-dimensional analysis of a counterweight type space elevator by Mr Taiki Okino (Shizuoka Uni, Japan) + others
Beneficial Environmental Impacts of Space Elevators by the study group led by Dr Jerry Eddy (ISEC, US) & Dr Pete Swan
A rod model for the extension analysis of convex tethers by Mr Kaishu Yokota (Nihon Uni, Japan) + others

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Architecture Note #33

by Michael A. Fitzgerald

Senior Exec VP and Co-Founder

Galactic Harbour Associates, Inc

Space Elevator Transportation & Enterprise Systems

Architecture Engineering at the Interface

As John Knapman said, as we sought the best alternative,

“…hopefully we will have at least one.”

This is an Architecture Note. It is the opinion of the Chief Architect. It represents an effort to document ongoing science and engineering discussions. It is one of many to be published over time. Most importantly, it is a sincere effort to be the diary, or the chronicle, of the multitude of our technical considerations as we progress; along the pathway developing the Space Elevator.

Michael A. Fitzgerald

It was the best Architecture Engineering meeting ever!

We got together because Pete & Dennis said we had to. Not really a professional motivation; but we met, and talked. Yes, the first meeting of the Climber/Tether Interface Study was called to order. I was late...not unusual for someone my age; a doctor’s appointment. I settled into the “Teams” video set up with a fresh cup of coffee.

A few minutes after my late arrival, Dennis set up my commentary about the need for information exchanges at the interface. The uproarious support for my comments was…deafening silence. Then a comment about command and control…<yawns> not the job here. Undaunted, I pressed on. “Let me make up an example.” I proffered, “If the Climber is approaching a portion of tether that is stressed or damaged, shouldn’t it know?” The silence ceased and the Architecture Engineering process began!

I am not pretending to say this was a scheme on my part, but it sure worked out. A basic tenet of Architecture Engineering is, if the status or behavior of one system (or segment) affects the behavior or performance of another system (or segment) the affected system (or segment) must be notified. It is an information exchange requirement -- an IER. It is a requirement; to be dealt with like any requirement; with engineering.

In the ensuing minutes, a terrific discussion followed. Someone asked if we would understand enough from classic failure mode testing. Another asked if we would be able to sense stress in the tether. The smart people involved in the study will find a way. The Climber/Tether Interface will be the “smart interface” the Space Elevator Transportation System needs. In the current century, the Space Elevator based Galactic Harbour will safely and efficiently deliver thousands of metric tons of valued cargo; overcoming events like a stressed tether, because we must.

It really was the best Architecture Engineering meeting ever!

A second question was especially insightful; about establishing a "climbability" condition in much the same quantitative way as the space elevator feasibility and tether strength conditions were set up. This question, some soon realized, was an examination of whether or not we were assembling a “fair weather” Tether Climber interface.

In engineering lore, a fair weather system is one which operates well only when all things are just so; i.e., in fair weather. We must understand how our Tether and Climber operate in conditions less than fair weather. In fact, we must set about defining all operating conditions less than fair, and understand the failure modes these segments must endure to operate in conditions less than fair. Beyond that, we must also predict and avoid conditions less than fair. (Jeepers!)

Note here, weather is not the only condition in question. Segment stress and fatigue are two conditions we must thoroughly understand. Segment to segment asymmetric alignment could be source of torque, and subsequent stress. Compound conditions also need to be examined. Sometimes an item might be more vulnerable if it were operating in one thermal condition versus another.

This all amounts to the need for a thorough level of taxonomic test planning. The plan must document a series of test sequences that will provide the body of knowledge we need. This body of knowledge will be inserted into the foreseen “Sequences” that we developed nearly four years ago. (Read about Sequences in Architecture Notes numbers 6, 7, and 8). It’ll do you good.

In Closing

WE have often said that we don’t know all the answers. But we are building a body of knowledge, and the quality of thought in our Architecture Engineering meetings will lead us to the answers. We’ll keep at it.

Fitzer

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The Nature of Change and How this Applies to the Space Elevator Project

by Adrian Nixon

There is something profound about the way the world changes, and why we have the potential to make a big impact. This is how I have come to understand change:

1. Stuff happens

2. People get together, and:

i) Align their thinking,

ii) Then extend each other’s thinking

iii) Challenge one another in a constructive way to select the best stuff

iv) Network with more people

v) Align again to get stuff done

vi) Go back to i) and repeat.

The one thing you will all know about change is that change is constant. But if change is constant, how come we keep getting caught by surprise? The secret is understanding that while change is constant, the rate of change is not constant. Applying this to the above (I’ll try to be brief):

1. Stuff happens

Constant grumbling about the change in the world...
Then all of a sudden Covid happens (or 911, or the Berlin wall comes down, or some other Black Swan event) [The rate of change just changed - rapidly]
Everyone’s world changes, almost overnight
Then gradually the pieces settle back down [The rate of change slows down again back to the background level]
Books get written, TV shows made with 20/20 hindsight and say, yes of course all the signs were there, and maybe some bright people saw this coming but mostly this is rationalising after the event
And we all go back to thinking the world will always be this way
Constant grumbling about the change in the world
Then some other stuff happens...Repeat

2. People get together. For example, to focus on the space elevator [or insert your world changing project here]

This is hard, really hard, but attractive because it is hard and a worthwhile thing to do
Nothing happens for ages, people lose faith
However, a small core do not, and eventually the networking finds new people with new ideas
These get challenged, tested, most rejected
Some survive the challenge
The networking cycle repeats, and more people become aligned
All of a sudden you have a critical mass of understanding and stuff happens really fast
Then everyone says, how the heck did that happen?
People like us made things happen

Hopefully, I have laid out how this can happen, and as you’ll have realized, it is the outreach and networking that is often the overlooked superpower. (and this is what ISEC and its members are very good at doing) The profound bit is that we pay more attention to:

1. stuff happening and underestimate that

2. groups of aligned people can change the world too.

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Demand Pull--Space Solar Power, An Example for Space Elevators

by Pete Swan

As I have said, good ideas are good ideas ONLY if you have a passionate advocate for that idea. In the space solar power arena - and there are many proponents around the world - most ensure their research and experimentation are supported by Dr. John Mankins. He has taken the concepts of Dr. Peter Glasser and has developed them into realizable engineering concepts that can achieve a monumental task. Dr. Mankins has stated that he believes a robust space solar power architecture would "Stop global warming, and even reverse it."[1] However, to achieve his goal of replacing 12% of the global electrical power demand by 2060 with energy from Geosynchronous orbit, he needs five million tonnes[2] of operating satellites (acres in size) delivered to a 36,000 km altitude. His objective is to eliminate 100's of fossil fuel burning plants. This is a remarkable mass number when you understand the rocket equation and realize that to accomplish this goal requires 250 million tonnes on the launch pad at liftoff (2% to GEO). If you take Mr. Musk's estimate of 21 tonnes to GEO (for his Starship booster), then that would be over 238,095 launches - even at 3 per day that is 217 years.

This shows an example of what I call a demand pull for the Space Elevator. To reach Dr. Mankins' goal, space elevators should be a part of his implementation approach for his project. When we are a mature infrastructure (six space elevators around the equator - three Galactic Harbours with a capacity of 79 tonnes per day per elevator - say 2045?) we will be able to provide 173,010 tonnes to GEO per year. This leads to 29 years during his development time.

Demand pull is when a future customer needs something and asks the developer to supply it. A customer needs a capability by a certain time and will help to mature a technology and start a program with the offer to be an "anchor tenant." We at ISEC need to recognize these critical customer demands and gain support from them to move forward. Much of this was discussed in our 2020 study report, just completed, at www.isec.org. In the report we show two demand pull opportunities: Mr. Musk needs 1 million tonnes to Mars and Dr. Mankins needs five million tonnes to Geosynchronous. It would seem to me they should now be demanding capability from us.

[1] Mankins, John webinar entitled " NSS Space Forum on 20 August - A Case for Space-Based Solar, Power.

[2] Mankins, John, personal conversation with P. Swan, at IAC, Washington.D.C. Oct 2019

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History Corner

by David Raitt

The Space Elevator - a Videography

Editor’s Note: This is the second part of two parts due to length. For the first part, see the September 2020 issue.

For this month’s History Corner, I thought I’d take a further look at some of the many short videos, films, news clips and animations pertaining to space elevators and their history, construction and use that are available on the Internet. It is by no means inclusive - there are numerous short films or videos on the space elevator concept available, some featuring decent animations and photography as well as some with people just talking about space elevators. YouTube, in particular, has many clips on space elevators posted over the years, some featuring very nice artwork, though, unfortunately some appear to be no longer available. Rather than putting the offerings below in date order, I have tried to arrange them in different categories so far as possible, such as Lectures and Interviews; Companies and Organizations; Artistic Inspirations; TV and Films; and General - though there will be some inevitable overlap between the groups. I have not attempted to review or discuss the contents of the videos, just merely to note their existence.

Artistic Inspiration

Tom Phillips submitted the topic of a space elevator in London for his Master of Art Architecture degree thesis in 2016. He believed that his London Space Elevator, based in the river Thames estuary, would bring science fiction to life by means of providing an efficient, intuitive and sustainable transport line to space. The two-part base station with its detachable mobile element combined ground breaking technology with innovative design while conforming to an intrinsically considered series of functions and zones. He concluded that with the current progression in technology, coupled with the need and benefit analysis of the space elevator project, its realization is imminent. That someone should choose to base his Masters’ dissertation on the design and operation of a space elevator is astounding - it won him a distinction and the Silver Medal of the Royal Institute of British Architects. Phillips has made an excellent, detailed video of the London Space Elevator and its architecture, covering all the main issues, which can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tTe435YWCo.

As Tom Phillips’ architectural work shows, a variety of different groups have seized inspiration from the space elevator. There is a young rock band from London who call themselves Space Elevator! The group of four released their debut album in 2014 and released a second in 2016, the cover of which features a space elevator, as does the group’s website at http://spaceelevatorband.com. Thoth Technology, Inc. subsequently teamed up with the group to promote their idea of a space elevator. Thoth procured the exclusive rights to the Space Elevator band’s Elevator track featuring the Duchess and David Young, which they used in their 2016 demonstration animation video for the ThothX space tower featuring an innovative elevator mounting method (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVsUyPEN1eY).

There are, in addition, a number of games which also feature a space elevator. Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri strategy computer game, for instance, allows players to build a secret project called the Space Elevator. An extremely brief taster can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zws0V6Kre5I.

The Space Busters series is where crazy ideas are put to the test in Space Engineers which appears to be a game. In this 32-minute episode from 2019, AndrewmanGaming is trying to make a Space Elevator - asking whether it’s possible, can we do it, and how many times will the game crash? A location on top of a mountain is chosen and his efforts tried pistons - stacking piston cylinders to stretch up into space - and rotors for the launch mechanism and then had a machine climbing a column. The conclusion is space myth busted - we can construct a space elevator! The video is interesting, not least to show how such computer games might be constructed. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pklarNoSbs).

“Space Elevator Demo”, posted in 2017, is a quick demonstration and explanation of a space elevator and how it can be built and programmed for the Minecraft game. What is also interesting are the comments and questions posed below the video - showing that there is some interest in space elevators, at least at the gaming level. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GrVjxGb83Q). And earlier, in 2012, Wooly Creeper posted what he considered an elegant way to enter and exit a floating structure in his 50 minute “Tutorial 4 - Space Elevator” in which he showed how to build in Minecraft. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fD-4X9KudI4).

Ace Combat 7 is another game and “Ace Combat Lore: The Construction of the International Space Elevator” was the title of a video covering the history, geopolitics, construction and influence of the International Space Elevator in the Lighthouse War of 2019 It was posted by an Ace Combat Fan in 2019. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvoaUUMFLm8). It appears there are several other space elevator videos within Ace Combat 7.

TV and Films

“The Great Space Elevator” was a new Dr Who adventure with the Second Doctor, as told by his companion Victoria Waterfield. Written by Johnathan Morris, it was the second story of Season 3 and released in August 2008 in the Companion Chronicles audio range by Big Finish (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2ZXUn5g86Y). The synopsis tells that the Great Space Elevator is a marvel of human engineering; a transit tube stretching from the equator up to a space station held in geosynchronous orbit. When the TARDIS lands in Sumatra in the future, the Second Doctor, Jamie, and Victoria are captured by guards just as the station loses power. Together with Security Officer Tara Kerley, the three travelers take a one-way trip on the elevator to fix the problem, and find themselves confronted by a powerful alien force that threatens to wreak chaos on Earth.

“Payload” is a short film about scavengers set in a space elevator town appropriately named Clarke’s Town (http://www.payloadfilm.com). Written and directed by Stuart Willis, and produced by Tom Bicknell in 2011, the world of Payload drew its inspiration from two very real places: the isolated Australian mining town of Kalgoorlie – full of men and brothels; and the Kazakhstan space launch facility town of Baikonur – where the locals scavenge the fallen refuse from a nearby Russian spaceport. It was important, however, that Clarke’s Town not be considered an allegory for either town but become its own imagined place. Clarke’s Town is defined only by its function as a spaceport; it is isolated, weathered and indifferent.

A team of filmmakers who love science and science fiction were inspired to share the story of the space elevator after learning that a group of scientists were working to make it a reality. For the past several years, the Going Up! Films team has been following the space elevator community as they pursue a seemingly impossible vision. From attending various scientific gatherings, to covering NASA’s high-stakes Space Elevator Games, they got to know the major players and watch their successes and struggles, both personal and professional. They noted that in 1979, Arthur C. Clarke wrote a novel about an elevator to space and that their work was the story of the people who intend to build it. The result of their efforts is “Sky Line: The Space Elevator Documentary”, finished in early 2015 following a kickstarter project, that covers where the idea of a space elevator came from, how it will work, and what it is like for people to work on the project. With voiceover by Clarke and comments by Jerome Pearson, Brad Edwards, and Michael Laine, an initial early take can be found at (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1704207196/sky-line-the-space-elevator-documentary), whereas a somewhat different trailer for the finished film can be viewed at http://spaceelevator.net.

Aniara is a sci-fi film, written and directed by Pella Kågerman and Hugo Lilja, that premiered at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival. The movie is based on a science fiction poem written by Harry Martinson, a Swedish Nobel laureate, in 1956. In the trailer, from 2019, shown here future Mars settlers ride a space elevator up from Earth to the Aniara space station - a way station on their journey to Mars. (https://www.space.com/aniara-movie-clip-space-elevator.html).

General

“The Space Elevator Why” movie is a three-minute explanation by Alan Chan and the Space Elevator Visualization Group. Posted in 2009 by Ben Shelef, the film explores why we want to build a Space Elevator (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eldlKDso9o). The “Space Elevator How” movie, also posted by Ben Shelef in 2009 is a two-minute introduction to just what the space elevator is. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yP9yJHryNGk).

“Space Elevator Ride” from 2008 is a short animation clip showing a space car being launched up the elevator on a sort of rail gun (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MegUVzFiqR4).

Also to be viewed for its detail is a nice video from 2012 set in the Galapagos entitled “Leaving the planet by space elevator” by Erdem Tuzun at https://vimeo.com/61671533. The video depicts the ground station hub of the space elevator and describes how the loading mechanisms will assist the climbers ascend the elevator.

There is also a useful, voiced, animated video, possibly aimed at younger viewers, entitled “Space Elevator – Science Fiction or the Future of Mankind?” posted in 2016 by Kurzgesagt - In a Nutshell. It is a good, easy-to-understand animated explanation of how a space elevator would work, whether or not it would be worth constructing one, what is would likely look like, what the components are, what technological hurdles need to be overcome, what the dangers might be, how the Moon might be the first elevator, benefits and uses, and more (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPQQwqGWktE). Another recent animated video posted by Kurzgesagt - In a Nutshell at the end of 2019 entitled “1,000km Cable to the Stars - The Skyhook” looks at how to get to space easier and cheaper without rockets, by having a good space infrastructure and using proven technology - especially a tether and reusable shuttles. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqwpQarrDwk).

In 2016, Practical Engineering posted “Design your own space elevator.” After briefly saying what a space elevator is, the 10-minute video looks into the science and engineering behind it, noting the forces that will act upon it. The biggest difficulties in this concept are the most fundamental aspects of its design: the mass of the counterweight, getting power to the climber, and the strength of the tether. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAXGUQ_ewcg).

Now that the shuttle has been retired, the hunt is on for revolutionary technologies to economically lift cargo and humans into space. And a space elevator just may be the answer. According to renowned physicist Michio Kaku, speaking in 2011, recent developments in nanotechnology may make this technological marvel a reality by the end of this century. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYYdh84pFng). In another video “Michio Kaku: Elevator to the Stars” from 2011, he talks about graphene and the technical problems of getting a space elevator operational. But he concludes that, in principle, a space elevator is within the laws of physics. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zxzda3zYxA).

BBC Earth Lab posted a video in 2013 entitled “Can We Build A Space Elevator?” As has been said countless times, getting to space in a rocket is expensive! And one of the most popular alternative ideas is the space elevator, but is it really possible? James May considers the concept. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=annVRxRjj4c&feature=emb_logo).

ExplainingtheFuture’s video from 2019 has Christopher Barnatt discussing (with animations) how space elevators may one day allow us to travel into space from the Earth, Moon or Mars without using a rocket. He acknowledges the work by Konstantin Tsiolkovsky and Brad Edwards, notes carbon nanotube tethers, the counterweight, lunar and Mars elevators and looks at the pioneers, including NASA commissioned reports, LiftPort, Space Elevator Games, Japanese and Chinese plans etc. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kpe953wt2w).

“Upward Bound: Space Elevators” was posted in 2017 by Isaac Arthur. In this episode the concept of a Space Elevator, a popular piece of developing technology designed to lift people and cargo into space at a fraction of normal launch costs is examined, followed by a look at technology as well as many of the misconceptions about Space Elevators which have emerged. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dc8_AuzeYKE).

“Is Google planning to build a space elevator?” In 2014 Red Black Productions produced a video noting that after months of speculation, GoogleX finally confirmed that it has been conducting research on space elevators. The question was asked is Google actually planning to build one? The answer is yes and no depending on the availability of the right materials and technology! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TdHTAUZqPk).

SciShow in 2012 posted a short video simply entitled “Space Elevators” which discussed the concept and problems and why we shouldn't expect to see one any time soon. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2M73aXuORI).

An undated video from Qatar Foundation, entitled “Space Elevator - SOS Fast Facts” is a short clip that first shows the way spaceships are currently launched by rockets and then discusses how a space elevator might usefully be employed instead once the suitable material of carbon nanotubes has been improved. (https://www.starsofscience.com/fast-fact/space-elevator).

And just a couple of months ago in June 2020, for Number 3 in his series Scientifiction, Étienne Ledolley posted the video he made about Arthur C. Clarke and the Space Elevator (with input from ISEC!). The 20 minute French language film, narrated by Etienne, has a lot of nice imagery and covers pretty much all the aspects, including the necessary material (graphene) for the tether, technologies, debris etc. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PndYfuGtCBY).

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Online Workshop for ISEC Members

ISEC is trying something new this year. As a benefit to our active members and as a way to maintain the social and professional contacts which usually take place at our Seattle conference, we are inaugurating a members-only online workshop. On Friday, October 9th we will have a two-hour meeting on Zoom consisting of talks, updates and our famous brain-storming session, this year focusing on the space elevator climber-tether interface. At the end of the meeting we will have an open-mic session of unstructured discussion so you can renew old contacts, make new ones, or talk about anything that comes to mind.

Remember, though, this is only for ISEC members. If you are not a member and want to participate, you still have plenty of time to join. Just go to https://www.isec.org/membership and sign up.

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Upcoming Events

Student-Only Webinar: Are you Ready to Hop On The Space Elevator?

Sponsored by the National Space Society, Mumbai, India

https://www.isec.org/events

Friday, October 2, 2020

Online Workshop for ISEC Members

Sponsored by the International Space Elevator Consortium

https://www.isec.org/events

Friday, October 9th, 2020

World Space Week

Sunday, October 4th through Saturday, October 10th, 2020