New Space and Tech

In the News – Even on the ground, space elevators may have uses

By Marc Boucher
April 8, 2013
Filed under

The New Scientist has an article today on LiftPort‘s recent 60 day test of their 100 meter long tether and it’s potential application as a wifi transmitter in the sky. This is an interesting concept and usage for tether’s, but hardly useful for a Space Elevator which will be located in the middle of the ocean. However as an early spinoff technology it could be useful in fundraising.

Balloon-borne platforms developed as precursors to space elevators could be used as high-altitude relay stations for wireless communications, a 60-day field test suggests.

The company also tested their climbing robot on this tether, even though it was not crucial to finding out whether the balloons would work as a Wi-Fi station. The robot will be necessary in the future for delivering new helium tanks to balloons at higher altitudes.

SpaceRef co-founder, entrepreneur, writer, podcaster, nature lover and deep thinker.