The Spaceward foundation has announced the Elevator:2010 project, aimed at encouraging public, academic and private sector involvement with development of the Space Elevator.
Popularised in science fiction, a Space Elevator hauling cargo up a ground-to-orbit tether was once considered by scientists an interesting but impractical idea.
According to Spaceward, recent advances in Carbon Nanotube technology have brought the possibility of constructing a Space Elevator tantalizingly close, and ignited active development in the scientific, academic and government sectors.
Elevator:2010 will announce a set of challenges and competitions focused on various Space Elevator concepts and technologies. In addition, Elevator:2010 has embarked on a public showcase of space elevator development and related technologies through ongoing exhibitions at public events and scientific and technology museums across America.
Elevator:2010 is a Spaceward Foundation project. The Spaceward Foundation is a publicly funded, non-profit organisation dedicated to furthering space science and technology in the public mindshare and in educational curriculums.
For more information, visit the Elevator:2010 web site (http://www.elevator2010.org)
