Futureproof: Space Elevator Lifts Humanity

Future Narrative

Last week, we celebrated the 10th anniversary of the opening of Span One of the Space Elevator complex. Over the last decade, the price of going into space has dropped dramatically, and critical environmental research and space tourism have reached new heights.

The production of carbon nanotubes at an industrial scale made the long-envisioned system a reality. Over the last decade, hundreds of tons of material have been lifted into space, and prices for orbital lifting continue to fall. The costs associated with building the Space Elevator have been offset by the frequency of mining spacecraft delivering valuable and exotic minerals from the asteroid belt.

Singapore was selected as the anchor site for the International Space Elevator.

Segment A rises from the anchor site, selected due to its proximity to the equator.

Northward view of Segment A of the International Space Elevator. The “EXPANSE” pad and viewing levels of The Four Seasons section provide guests with sweeping views of Earth. Note the extensive growth of logistics facilities surrounding the anchor point.


Implications

If the light-weighting and strength challenges can be solved, space elevator structures have the potential to open a new era of space exploration.