14 DAY TRIAL // Does Microsoft dream of a 62,000-mile elevator ride, from the Earth into space? Well, it should come as no surprise that the answer is “Yes!” Some of you might have guessed that I attempted to reference Philip K. Dick's “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” and fact is that a space elevator and Dick's novel that went on to spawn Blade Runner have “science fiction” in common. The software giant is one of the supporters of the elevator to space project, a strong enough supporter to host the Space Elevator Conference 2009 at its Redmond campus. The event, now in its second year, is organized by David Horn, a program manager on the Office Live Service Experience team, and will take place August 13-16.
"It does sound a little like sci-fi but, hopefully, not for long," Horn explained. "The excitement about the space elevator is that the technologies we need to make this happen are very near." Microsoft revealed that the idea of a space elevator was conceived initially by Russian scientist Konstantin Tsiolkovsky back in 1895. The concept became popular through the work of such SF authors as Arthur C. Clarke.
However, what was not until long ago just the product of human imagination, is beginning to take contour, some scientists say, pointing out that the space elevator could be built with existing technology. In fact, the key piece of the space elevator was discovered nearly two decades ago.
The critical detail of a 62,000-mile elevator is the ribbon that would connect the Earth and space. A new type of material dubbed carbon nanotubes, discovered back in 1991, is capable of making the space elevator a reality. The biggest problem is the fact that the space elevator would require a 62,000-mile long cable of carbon nanotubes, while with existing technology, scientists can produce cables a few centimeters long at best.
"The big factor that could potentially change the world is that it would reduce the access cost to space,” Horn added. “Instead of paying US$10,000 a pound to put something into orbit with a rocket, you could reduce that cost to $100 a pound or less."
The immensely reduced costs would mean the democratization of space. Traveling into orbit would be nothing short of affordable for the masses, unlike today, when only eccentric millionaires can afford to become space tourists. The Space Elevator Conference 2009 is, in this regard, one step toward making the space elevator a reality.
"One theme this year is to get more communities involved, more schools involved, more kids involved," Horn stated. "By the time this becomes a reality, they'll be the ones building it. So, with this event, we're saying, 'Come spark the imagination of your kids or yourself. Come see what's possible.'"