Leave the Rockets, Take the Space Elevator

Space elevators are not science fiction. They are, in fact, the most promising space travel-related infrastructure on the drawing boards today. A space elevator can be thought of as a vertical railroad into space: a tether stretches from Earth to an Apex Anchor (counterweight) 60,000 miles into space. Elevator cars travel up and down the tether carrying cargo and passengers. During this discussion, Dr. Peter Swan, President of the International Space Elevator Consortium, will introduce you to space elevators, discuss their history, design, mechanics, potential benefits, future plans, and potential obstacles to construction. From a historical transportation perspective, interstate highways, bridges, and transcontinental rail systems are infrastructure just like the space elevator promises to be. This will define the future space superhighway's main green road to space.

This program is presented in collaboration with Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI).