Physics Colloquium, November 13, 2007
The Space Elevator from Science Fiction to Engineering Larry Bartoszek

Bartoszek Engineering Company

Dr. Bradley Edwards and Eric Westling have published what has to be the cheapest way to build a space elevator in their book "The Space Elevator— a revolutionary Earth-to-Space Transportation System". The only thing missing at the moment is a Carbon Nanotube fabric strong enough to satisfy the strength requirements of the elevator. There are many reasons why this fabric will become available within the next few years, and the initial cost estimate of the elevator puts it within the ability of a corporation (or individual) to build. Once the CNT fabric becomes available, there are many engineering, economic and regulatory hurdles to cross before the elevator becomes the cheapest way to transport cargo into space.

This talk will cover the Edwards and Westling elevator design and construction scenario, and some conceptual design work by Bartoszek Engineering on the first construction climber.

Mr. Bartoszek's Talk

Mr. Bartoszek's Web Site

4:00 p.m., Physics Research Building (PRB), Room 1080

Reception at 3:45 p.m., Atrium, PRB