The competition has been funded by a NASA program to explore bold technology.
The contest will encourage a theory that was first suggested by Yuri Artsutanov and later popularized by Sir Arthur Clarke in his eminent novel “The Fountains of Paradise". His 30-year-old novel brought the whole concept to the global audience.
Contest details
The contest requires the machines to climb 2,953 feet at an average speed of 5 metres (16.4 ft) per second.
The climb must be powered by the concept known as "power beaming", which is like an upside-down solar power system. The concept is tested at Nasa's Dryden Flight Research Centre about 90 miles north of Los Angeles.
The winners of the contest will be awarded a prize of $2 million. The space elevator competition so far has not found a winner in the previous three years.
Revolutionary phase marked by “Space Pirates”
The Kansas City’s Space Pirates team was the first off the ground after hours of testing the cable system and refueling the helicopter. Initially, its climber failed to respond to laser power, but after some examination, it was again sent up.
It began moving on its third try, but developed a hitch as the laser was not able to stay locked onto the machine.
If the cable is in place, the elevators can climb like a ski-lift. But due to battery and fuel the weight increases, thereby leading to the need of the concept of power beam discussed above.
Ted Semons of the sponsoring Spaceward Foundation said the team was expected to try again on Friday.
The other teams expected to compete are the University of Saskatchewan Space Design Team (USST) and LaserMotive of Seattle.
A revolution could occur in space travel if these developments are successful. It could lead to a lot of new results, the kind of jump that could leave the space agencies and Arthur Clarke smiling.
Other than making space travel cheaper, it would also be much safer.
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