The Space Elevator: A Revolutionary Earth-to-Space Transportation System

by Bradley C. Edwards, Eric A. Westling

The authors take the reader through the history of the concept, technical design and economic practicalities of building an elevator to space, and, ultimately, the implications of what such a low cost transportation system would mean to society. Based on three years of NASA-funded studies and written for the technically literate layperson, Edwards and Westling discuss the recent technological advances that now make the space elevator feasible. They conclude by addressing the effects that the space elevator could have on mankind's future from communications and energy to colonizing space.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction

288 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2003

Reviews

[Brent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Research for a WIP. Lots of math that I gleefully skipped over as I absorbed all the cool ideas.

[Justin Aquino · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is very educational for me as I write my own scifi and like running TRPG sessions in Near Future Scenarios. One of the main strengths of this book is the refernces and calculations of the requirements for such. The book doesnt go into Political and Economic development - which I recommend "Where is my Flying Car" and the details regarding 0G manufacturing and Nano technology used in 0G manufacturing - there is not much on 0G manufacturing.
Weaknesses would be alternatives to Carbon Nano Tubes - but I do agree that that would be out of scope - and anyway if you have the patience you can work back the math to figure out alternatives like Alloys X better than steel, kevlar, etc... as we progress to a space elevator.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a decent explanation of the amazing concept of a space elevator that could, with the right technological and political developments, take people and goods into Earth orbit cheaply. Brad Edwards hoped to advance the concept through government largesse. There is also an entrepreneurial side of the story, pursued by Edwards's former partner Michael Laine. Laine's LiftPort has come out of hibernation and is chasing this dream once again. Check out Liftport.com.

[Stefan Koepeknie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have a signed copy of this from 2003.