NEXT FLOOR MARS? THE YV Introduction

The story of the space elevator is really assured his interviewers that not only Focus the story of a group of dreamers— was it possible but it would, indeed, One of the great visionaries who imagine a possible ultimately be built. dreams of both world that seems completely fantastic to Clarke’s concept was quickly picked science and science most other people. up by a number of scientists and fiction is to find a cheap, safe way for The Canadian Oxford Dictionary engineers who agreed that, in theory, human beings to defines a visionary as a person “given it made a great deal of sense. They travel into outer to seeing visions or indulging in fanci- were quick to point out, however, that space. This News in ful theories,” or one “having vision or the space elevator was an engineering Review story exam- foresight.” Calling someone a visionary feat beyond current capabilities. The ines the idea of the can be both to praise and to disparage biggest drawback: no material light or space elevator, that person. strong enough existed with which to which more and For over 100 years, a very few—the build the cable from Earth to space. more experts believe may well visionaries—have dreamed of the space On the other hand, if such a mate- make this dream elevator: a fixed link between the earth rial—one jokingly called come true. and space. The concept itself of people unobtainium—could be found, then climbing to heaven and to the sky is building a space elevator would be much older; the Tower of Babel in the possible; not easy, but possible. Definition Bible and the fairy tale of Jack and the In 1991, scientists suddenly had Geosynchronous, Beanstalk both deal with this idea. But their unobtanium. They discovered according to the the father of the modern version is that carbon atoms could be wrapped Canadian Oxford probably a Russian, Konstantin into microscopic tubes to form a Paperback Diction- Tsiolkovski. In 1896, inspired by the material 100 times stronger—and ary, is an adjective Eiffel Tower, he envisioned a “celestial much lighter—than steel. The study of that refers to an artificial satellite castle” floating in space, reached by a carbon nanotubes (extremely tiny “moving in such an cable attached to a high tower on the tubes, a few billionths of a metre in orbit equal to the earth below. diameter) soon became one of the earth’s period of In 1960 another Russian, Yuri N. most popular areas of materials re- rotation.” Artsutanov, published an article in the search for scientists—the commercial newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda value of such a material for construct- describing a design very close to what ing all kinds of items was self-evident. YV Sections has become today’s design, with a Research concentrated on methods for marked with this tether attached from earth to a satellite producing large quantities of carbon symbol indicate content suitable for in geosynchronous orbit. The idea was nanotubes, and for binding them younger viewers. picked up by of the Air together to form long fibres. Force Research Laboratory who pub- Scientists and engineers at NASA lished an article describing a space realized that carbon nanotubes could elevator in 1977. be just the material they were looking It took one of the great science fiction for in designing a space elevator. By visionaries, Arthur C. Clarke, to popu- 1999 they had produced a preliminary larize the concept of the space elevator. design that, they felt, could be con- He built it in his imagination, and structed in about 50 years. It required described it in his 1979 novel The several impressive engineering feats, Fountains of Paradise. Asked at the including the construction of a 50 time if he really believed that building kilometre-high base tower to which such a thing was possible, Clarke would be tethered a 36 000 kilometre

CBC News in Review • April 2004 • Page 46 cable anchored to a tive thinking about the future, of asking docking station. The docking station “What if?” even in areas where some- was initially conceived of as an asteroid thing seems patently impossible. that would be moved into geosynchro- Thinking the impossible about the nous orbit around Earth. future has always been part of science One NASA scientist, Bradley fiction—in film and television, as well Edwards, felt that there had to be a as in novels. Those writers who ground simpler and cheaper approach to com- their fiction in science, like Arthur C. pleting a space elevator. Edwards Clarke and Isaac Asimov, often live reworked the design, and created a long enough to see some of their wild- version that he felt could be built for est ideas become reality. Many scien- $10-billion within 15 years. Edwards tists are early fans of the genre, and left NASA and formed a private com- often the ideas they read in their youth pany, now known as LiftPort Inc., inspire their work in later life. which expects to build the first space Even huge organizations like NASA elevator in 2018. and the European Space Agency have While there are still many problems come to recognize the importance of to overcome, the building of a space vision. Both have created divisions to elevator now seems not only possible look beyond the needs of the immediate but also likely, and the prospect is and near future, to explore seeming exciting scientists around the world— outlandish ideas and concepts, and to many of whom volunteer their time to encourage visionaries to imagine all assist the project. It has also served to kinds of possible worlds. draw attention to the value of specula- To Consider 1. Why might science fiction be important to a student of science itself?

2. Take a minute to think about and write down three important “What if” statements of your own.

3. Note two books of science fiction or speculative fiction that you could suggest others might wish to read.

For Reflection Before you watch the video, list some of the ways in which the building of a space elevator might change your world. How might it be used? After you watch the program, compare your ideas with those expressed by the scientists and engineers on the video.

CBC News in Review • April 2004 • Page 47 NEXT FLOOR MARS? THE SPACE ELEVATOR YV Video Review

1. Give two reasons why scientists think rocket-powered space flight is not Answer the ques- the best way to travel into space. tions as you watch the video.

2 a. What was the first thing designed and built at the Los Alamos National Laboratory?

b. What was the name of the project?

3. Health physicist Ron Morgan thinks that a space elevator could be built fairly soon. What is his estimate (in years)? ______

4. How would the climbers on the space elevator be fuelled?

5. Name the recently discovered material that seems to make construction of the space elevator a possibility. ______

6. How many tonnes of carbon nanotubes will it take to build the space elevator? ______

7. There is an unanswered health issue with carbon nanotubes. What is it?

8. What might happen to the elevator ribbon should it collapse?

9. How do scientists expect to avoid roaming satellites from colliding with the ribbon?

10. How long will a trip to the end of the space ribbon take? ______

11. What is the estimated cost of the first space elevator? ______

12. Bradley Edwards says that owning the first space elevator would be like owning the only automobile. What does he mean by that?

CBC News in Review • April 2004 • Page 48 NEXT FLOOR MARS? THE SPACE ELEVATOR The Visionaries

The individuals who are developing the strongest material known—Edwards Definition plans for the construction of the world’s left Los Alamos with a grant from Private vs. public first space elevator come from both the NASA’s Institute for Advanced Con- sector. Private sector generally private and public sectors. NASA, cepts (NIAC) to study the feasibility of refers to businesses through two of its divisions, has been the space elevator concept. Edwards owned by individu- instrumental in encouraging and fund- simplified NASA’s ideas and created als or groups for ing some of the foundation studies that what he calls “the Wright brothers’ their own interests. have outlined the basic requirements for version” (International Herald Tribune, Public sector refers successful completion of an elevator. September 25, 2003)—smaller and to enterprises controlled or Members of the business community cheaper—and the version described in owned by the have also become interested in financ- the video portion of this report. government for the ing, constructing and, ultimately, profit- HighLift Systems, Edwards’ private public interest. ing from the completed project. company, was established in Seattle, One of the space elevator’s most Washington. It became the leading enthusiastic proponents is David research centre for space elevator Further Research Smitherman of NASA’s Advanced development, and concluded that not You can read Projects Office at its Marshall Space only could an elevator be built, it could Smitherman’s initial study “Space Flight Center in Alabama. Smitherman be built within 15, rather than 50 years. Elevator: Technol- led NASA’s first official study of the The last major hurdle was the develop- ogy Development concept in 1999, and sponsored a ment of carbon nanotubes in large Needs” at conference for interested scientists, enough sections to build the transport std.msfc.nasa.gov/ engineers, and space enthusiasts. The ribbon. HighLift sponsored the first of ast/presentations/ 6b_smith.pdf. initial NASA concept—which included an annual series of space elevator construction of a 50 kilometre-high conferences in Seattle in August of 2002. tower and the capture of an asteroid to be The second conference was held at used as a —was consider- Los Alamos in September of 2003. ably modified over the next few years. Arthur C. Clarke, one of the most In 1999, Smitherman, while encourag- important science-fiction writers of the ing the funding of further feasibility 20th century, gave the keynote address. studies, felt that construction was possible For the most part, the 60 people attend- but likely at least 50 years away. ing the conference were convinced that Another centre of interest in the space Edwards was on track. A third interna- elevator is the Los Alamos National tional conference is to be held in Wash- Laboratory in northern New Mexico, ington, D.C., in June 2004. managed by the University of Califor- Edwards and his business partner nia for the U.S. Department of Energy. Michael Lane are so convinced of the It was here that Bradley Edwards, along viability of their version of the space with a group of his fellow scientists and elevator that they have created a new engineers, began serious work on group of companies, the LiftPort Group, accelerating the development of a to make it happen. LiftPort has an functional space elevator. Encouraged actual date—April 12, 2018—by which by widespread international research it expects the space elevator to be into carbon nanotubes—by far the operational.

CBC News in Review • April 2004 • Page 49 LiftPort stresses that it is a privately Eric Westling, a Texas business Further Research held company, and is building the space consultant working on the space eleva- Learn more about elevator to meet the need for further tor, is extremely enthusiastic. He has the LiftPort Group at www.liort.com/ exploration and exploitation of space, said (on the Web site Space.com at index.php. especially the parts of the solar system www.space.com/businesstechnology/ near Earth. “Once built, the space technology/space_elevator_020327- elevator will be a great boon to virtually 2.html): “Other than the invention of all space missions. In particular, the some Buck Rogers engine, the space space elevator will be able to support elevator is the only system for access- missions to the Moon and to Mars by ing space that is subject to the econom- providing inexpensive, large-scale ics of scale. It’s a true return on invest- transport of supplies and infrastructure. ment enterprise. The cost of space In the future, it will also fill additional travel has to become an incidental part roles in the exploration and commercial of the overall cost of what we’re trying development of a space-based to get done. It will change the world economy” (www.liftport.com/ economy. It’s worth whatever it costs to index.php?fuseAction=page& put it up.” pageID=1351). Westling believes that the first eleva- LiftPort expects the construction cost tor will lead to larger models carrying to be approximately $10-billion. At heavier loads. “I’m looking at a busi- present, a single shuttle launch costs ness plan that shows some investor $500-million, and the total cost of the could triple his or her money in about International may exceed six years, and the initial investment $100-billion. Clearly the cost, while could be as low as $5-billion.” high, is not prohibitive.

Discussion 1. Bryan Laubscher, an astrophysicist and one of the Los Alamos scientists backing the space elevator, sums up the feelings of all those promoting the construction of the first space elevator. “The first entity to build a space elevator,” he says, “will own space” (The Christian Science Monitor, October 2, 2003). What does this statement really mean?

2. Do you believe this prediction is accurate?

3. Should the ownership of the first space elevator be held by the private sector or the public sector? Explain.

4. Would you be willing to use this striking new technology? Why? Why not? Explain fully in your notebook.

CBC News in Review • April 2004 • Page 50 NEXT FLOOR MARS? THE SPACE ELEVATOR Building the Stairway to Heaven

While the concept of a space elevator carbon nanotubes that was several can be dated as far back as 1896, it was micrometres thick and 20 to 40 only in 1991 that the concept became a centimetres wide could support a load real possibility. Until that time no of 1800 kilograms. The initial spool of material existed that was both strong ribbon would be delivered into space by and light enough to form a ribbon that rocket, and allowed to unfurl toward could extend the necessary 100 000 Earth. Edwards would use laser-pow- kilometres into space. Scientists joked ered ribbon climbers to add to the initial that only the imaginary material ribbon. Over 2.5 years, 230 climbers “unobtanium” could ever be used to would each add 1.3 per cent in strength construct the device. to the initial ribbon. The result would In 1991, however, it was discovered be a ribbon that could support a 20- that sheets of carbon atoms can actually tonne climber with a 13-tonne payload. wrap themselves into microscopic Current research is dedicated to tubes. The tubes consist of networks of finding safe, relatively inexpensive carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal ways to produce sufficient quantities of pattern; they look like miniscule rolls of carbon nanotubes for industrial use, and chicken wire. The carbon nanotubes are to finding ways to bind them together produced in a high-voltage electric arc. for projects like the space elevator. This The nanotubes arrange themselves as a is a huge area of research. In 2001 alone hierarchy of tubes. In other words, the over 1 000 research papers were pub- visible fibres that one can see actually lished on carbon nanotubes. consist of bundles of tubes made up of As early as February 2002 Professor smaller bundles and so on right down to Hayam Benaroya of Rutgers University individual tubes. was predicting (Geographical, February A carbon nanotube measures just a 1, 2002): “We’re moving from the few nanometres across; a nanometre is scientific stage of just developing them one billionth of a metre. The smallest to actual commercial entities producing nanotubes have a circumference of 10 them in [tonne]-like quantities. U.S. and carbon atoms, linked together in a Japanese firms, in particular, have taken hexagonal pattern. A human hair could the lead in dramatically increasing their contain 50 000 carbon nanotubes. production. Carbon nanotubes are the strongest Interest in carbon nanotubes is not material known, 100 times stronger limited to those who are involved in the than steel, and weighing only one-sixth development of the space elevator. as much. A carbon nanotube string only Carbon nanotubes would also have half the width of a pencil could support many terrestrial applications, such as more than 40 000 kilograms, the cables for bridge construction and equivalent of the weight of 20 full-sized stronger bodies for automobiles. automobiles. One of the early approaches to manu- Bradley Edwards, the lead researcher facturing carbon nanotubes consisted of for the space elevator project, has stuffing them with metal atoms to calculated that a ribbon constructed of create microscopically thin wires.

CBC News in Review • April 2004 • Page 51 Researchers at Harvard, Purdue, and Nanotechnology Further Research Rice universities have found ways to Carbon nanotubes are only one of many Read about the teach the nanotubes to assemble them- areas of research in the new field of National Nanotechnology selves into larger structures. Other nanotechnology, which science author Initiative at researchers have created multi-walled Jack Uldrich defines as “the precise www.nano.gov. nanotubes—carbon nanotubes that control of matter at the atomic and contain nested layers of carbon. molecular level” (Minneapolis Star A March 11, 2004, article at Tribune, December 17, 2003). The field Betterhumans.com is so important that, in December 2003, (www.betterhumans.com/News/ the U.S. government created a National news.aspx?articleID=2004-03-11-4) Nanotechnology Initiative, bringing reports on a successful attempt to together the work of 16 federal agencies. produce nanotube ropes of potentially Uldrich sees nanotechnology’s poten- unlimited length. Researchers at the tial as significant for many different University of Cambridge in Great fields, “as diverse as material science, Britain have used a new spinning health care, and energy.” But he sees it technique that has produced fibres over as absolutely critical to the future a metre in length. The technique ap- exploration of space. What we possess pears to be both cost effective and now, he says, is only “a crude under- environmentally safe—two essentials standing of the full potential of the for producing the huge amounts of field.” Nanotechnology, however, carbon nanotubes needed to build the might ultimately bring to reality one of space elevator. the greatest dreams of science-fiction Space elevator designer Bradley writers: “Our understanding of how to Edwards speculates that the best solu- build devices up from the molecular tion for ribbon design will be to create level suggests that because Mars is rich an epoxy that is 50 to 60 per cent in carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and hydro- carbon nanotubes. Much of the research gen—the basic building blocks of many currently taking place is devoted to of Earth’s most useful products—the creating such an epoxy. planet possesses the raw material from which to manufacture, atom by atom, the air, water, energy, and materials necessary to survive there” (Minneapo- lis Star Tribune, December 17, 2003).

To Consider 1. What exactly is nanotechnology?

2. What evidence is there that nanotechnology has many potentially practi- cal uses?

3. What applications can you think of that might be useful for nanotechnology?

4. In general how do you view the role of science in shaping the future of our world?

CBC News in Review • April 2004 • Page 52 NEXT FLOOR MARS? THE SPACE ELEVATOR The Poet of the Space Age

Arthur C. Clarke is generally consid- had great success in the fields of both Quote ered to be one of the greatest science- science and science fiction. His 1952 “‘As far as the fiction writers of the 20th century. Born book Exploration of Space became a future is concerned, any political or in England in 1917, he developed an bestseller. Clarke closed the work with sociological predic- interest in astronomy as a young boy, a passage that summed up his views of tion is impossible,’ building himself a homemade tele- the importance of the exploration of Clarke has said. scope; by the age of 11 he had discov- space: “We stand now at the turning ‘The only area ered science fiction in the pulp maga- point between two eras. Behind us is a where there is any zine Astounding Stories. past to which we can never return. . . . possibility of suc- cess is the techno- Clarke worked for the British civil The coming of the rocket brought to an logical future.’” — service from 1936 to 1941, then entered end a million years of isolation . . . the “Arthur C. Clarke” the Royal Air Force, where he served as childhood of our race was over and by Frank Houston a radar specialist during the remainder history as we know it began.” at dir.salon.com/ of the Second World War. It was to- It was also during the 1950s that people/bc/2000/03/ 07/clarke/ ward the end of the war that he sold his Clarke, along with Robert Heinlein and index.html. first science-fiction stories. The first to Isaac Asimov, became known as one of appear in print was “Rescue Party,” the “Big Three” of science fiction. In which was published in Astounding 1953 he published what many consider Science Fiction in 1946. to be his greatest novel, Childhood’s In 1945, 12 years before the launch of End—a speculative fiction expanding the first artificial satellite, Clarke wrote the view he had expressed at the end of an article titled “Can Rocket Stations Exploration of Space. Give Worldwide Radio Coverage?” In Clarke also developed an interest in it, he predicted a global relay system of scuba diving, oceanography, and pho- geosynchronous satellites transmitting tography. In 1956, he moved to Sri radio and television signals—a system Lanka to pursue his diving interests in that began to take shape only in the the India Ocean, and has lived there 1960s. The orbits that are used by these ever since. Since the 1980s he has communications satellites are now often suffered from post-polio syndrome, and known as Clarke orbits in his honour. has been largely confined to his seaside After the war Clarke began a career home. To compensate, he has turned his as a science writer and editor of Physics home into a combination media centre, Abstracts, published by the Institute of workstation, and observatory. He is by Electrical Engineering. He also contin- no means isolated from the rest of the ued publishing science fiction; in 1948 world; his monthly telecommunications he wrote a short story, “The Sentinel,” bills are often in the thousands of which was to become the source of his dollars. greatest success, the movie 2001: A In 1964 Clarke met Stanley Kubrick, Space Odyssey. He also served as chair and the two began planning the movie of the British Interplanetary Society, that made Clarke a household name and became an expert on what was to around the world. 2001: A Space Odys- become known as the Space Age. sey was one of the most spectacular During the 1950s Clarke the writer science-fiction movies of all time, and a

CBC News in Review • April 2004 • Page 53 huge popular success. It was also a the building of a space elevator, using Quote movie filled with future technology— as its base a mountain in Sri Lanka. He “More commonly including a space station, laptops, has often said that this will probably be known as geosynchronous videophones, and e-mail—all of which his greatest legacy. Asked in 1979 when orbits and have become realities. such an elevator might be built, Clarke geostationary Clarke has so far published over 80 replied that it would be “about 50 years orbits, these were books of fiction and non-fiction. During after everyone stops laughing.” first popularized by the 1980s he was the presenter for two LiftPort, the company dedicated to science-fiction series of television programs on space. building the elevator, is clearly not author Arthur C. Clarke in 1945 as He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II laughing; their launch date is 2018. useful orbits for in 1998. Clarke often sums up his philosophy by communications It was in his 1979 novel The Foun- quoting his epitaph: “He never grew up; satellites. Clarke tains of Paradise that Clarke described but he never stopped growing.” orbits are 35 790 kilometers above the Earth and have Discussion a period of 24 1. In an interview Arthur C. Clarke stated: “We science-fiction writers never hours, exactly attempt to predict. In fact, it’s the exact opposite. As my friend Ray matching the Bradbury said, ‘We do this not to predict the future but to prevent it‘” rotation of the (Newsweek, December 2000-February 2001, special edition). What do you Earth. Seen from think Clarke meant by this statement? the surface of the Earth, a satellite in 2. Do writers such as Clarke and Asimov have a role other than to write such an orbit entertaining and popular books? appears motionless, thus an antenna 3. In a carefully written paragraph, state your general views about the can point in a fixed future of our world. direction and maintain a link Extension with the satellite. Read and comment on a book by one of the authors noted in this reading. View The first communi- the film 2001: A Space Odyssey and compare it with what we know about space cations satellite exploration today. placed in a Clarke orbit was Syncom 2, launched in 1963. Clarke orbits have been in common use ever since.” — from Wikepedia, the Free Encyclope- dia, en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Clarke_orbit

CBC News in Review • April 2004 • Page 54 NEXT FLOOR MARS? THE SPACE ELEVATOR Other Visions, Other Futures

The space elevator, while a spectacular create a huge bubble—several miles in Quote project, is only one of many innovative diameter—around a spacecraft. Pres- “At the present programs being planned or promoted by sure from the solar wind would push the rate of progress, it is almost impossible scientists and engineers for space spacecraft through space; constant to imagine any science in the 21st century. Here are acceleration would mean that M2P2 technical feat that some approaches being taken by private spacecraft would reach the outer planets cannot be achieved and public organizations. in half the time of conventional craft. —if it can be The design employs existing technol- achieved at all— ogy, and might be in use in as little as a within the next few NASA hundred years.” — NASA’s Institute for Advance Con- decade. Arthur C. Clarke, cepts (NIAC) is located in Atlanta, Some other initiatives being investi- Profiles of the Georgia. Most of NASA is busy with gated for NIAC include: Future, 1983 the current space program, and the • “biomemetic” robots – machines built needs of the organization 10 or so years like insects to navigate the thin Mar- NiR Archives into the future. NIAC, however, funds tian atmosphere Immediate plans research into what its director, Robert • self-assembling, tiny robots designed for the future Casanova, calls “really grand ideas that to perform inspections and repairs in exploration of may not be practical for 30 or 40 years” hazardous environments, capable of space, manned and (The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, self-assembly and “swarm intelli- unmanned, were December 26, 2002). examined in “Mars gence” NASA’s annual budget is about $15- Invasion: Exploring • “astronaut hotels” – large spacecraft the Red Planet,” in billion per year; NIAC receives $4- that would constantly travel between the March 2004 million from this budget. While this Earth orbit and Mars, served by “taxi” News in Review. may seem like a small amount, it has This section deals shuttles, which would enable the permitted NIAC to fund over 100 staffing of a permanent base on Mars with more specula- projects from the more than 600 pro- tive plans for future space explo- posals it has received. Successful European Space Agency ration. applicants receive an initial grant of The European Space Agency (ESA) has $75 000 with which they develop a also been active in examining unusual detailed version of their idea. If a panel proposals for future exploration of Further Research of experts likes their vision, they re- space. In May 2000, ESA asked the To learn more ceive two more years of funding to Swiss Maison d’Ailleurs, a science- about the policies develop what Casanova calls a “road and programs of fiction museum, to carry out a study it NASA visit map” for turning a vision into reality. calls Innovative Technologies from www.nasa.gov. For NIAC’s most provocative proposal to Science Fiction for Space Applications. the European Space date has been the “mini-magnetic ESA seemed especially taken with Agency, go to propulsion system” (M2P2), popularly the idea of the space elevator as por- www.esa.int. known as the plasma sail. Developed by trayed in Arthur C. Clarke’s The Foun- Robert Winglee and colleagues at the tains of Paradise. This strange idea was University of Washington, it could be looking more and more doable. Might used as an effective way to transport there be other ideas by other science- large payloads for long distances. The fiction writers at which ESA should system would use a magnetic field to take a closer look?

CBC News in Review • April 2004 • Page 55 Patrick Gyger, the curator of the Private Initiatives Maison d’Ailleurs, points out that there LunaCorp is a company that is develop- are probably 1 000 science-fiction ing projects that will allow members of writers who work with hard science. He the public to actually participate is a says that “on the one hand the initiative variety of programs in space. The could lead to the creation of a spate of company has drawn most attention for practical devices—such as special its plans to develop satellites and rovers thrusters built for astronauts, biological for lunar exploration. The company spaceships or even the construction of a expects to build the first satellite ever habitable biosphere on another planet. constructed at the International Space Alternatively, the whole exercise could Station, the SuperSat, and place it in end up being little more than a wild lunar orbit where it will complete the goose chase” (The Scotsman, August 1, first digital map of the moon’s surface. 2000). The SuperSat will be followed by an Many notable researchers—including Icebreaker Moon rover. Its exploration Stephen Hawking—credit science of the lunar surface would be controlled fiction for getting them hooked on from Earth, and its adventures beamed science. Leo Szilard, one of the creators live to television in science centres and of the atomic bomb, said that an H.G. theme parks. The intent of the company Wells story about atomic energy actu- is to develop an entire colony of robotic ally inspired his research. explorers with broadband communica- tion channels that could be controlled on the Web and at science centres by members of the public. Responding The encouragement of creative thinking about the future seems to be an im- portant part of the role of any government agency dealing with the explora- tion of space. Do you think that other agencies might also benefit by promot- ing the exploration of what Robert Casanova calls “really grand ideas”? Should funding be routinely provided for such extreme long-term planning?

CBC News in Review • April 2004 • Page 56 NEXT FLOOR MARS? THE SPACE ELEVATOR YV My Vision: The Ride of a Lifetime

If the dream of Bradley Edwards and his associates does come true, your gen- eration may well be the first to be able to go easily, safely, and cheaply into outer space. The adventure of a lifetime could become, for many, a reality. What would such a trip be like?

This is your chance to exercise your imagination to the fullest. Your task is to write a “short” short story—one to two pages—describing a trip on the space elevator.

The story should be faithful to the description of the space elevator in the video and text portions of the News in Review guide. However, what happens during the trip is up to you. Your trip might be: • A meditation on the beauty of Earth from space • A first step on a voyage to the Moon, Mars, or beyond • A near-disaster involving damage to the ribbon on which your climber rides • A commercial trip to place a new satellite in orbit • A conversation with fellow travellers about why all of them decided to make the trip • A trip on the space elevator by an astronaut who has flown on the space shuttle • A series of diary entries found by latter-day investigators

Brainstorming Notes

CBC News in Review • April 2004 • Page 57