Getting to Space on a Thread

The space elevator is a concept where a tether is used to lift cargo and personnel into space. This tether reaches from the surface of the Earth to a point some 62,000 miles into orbit. Vehicles traveling on this tether will be able to cheaply move heavy loads into orbit. From there, the cargo can be positioned in any desired position, with the major destination being geosynchronous orbit 22,240 miles up. The new technology which makes the space elevator possible is the carbon nano-tube (CNT), a material that is theoretically one hundred or more times stronger and ten times lighter than steel. The USAF, as the DoD Executive Agent for Space, can lead the U.S. in developing and deploying this alternate means of accessing space in support of DoD missions. In doing so, the USAF will be able to better meet its current needs for satellites on orbit along with rapid and extremely economical replenishment.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.