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<\/div>GOING (WAY) UP. <\/strong>For more than a century, the scientific community has kicked around the idea of space elevators. Specifics vary, but the basic design involves a vehicle of some sort that travels along a cable that spans from the Earth all the way up into space.<\/p> So far, space elevators have been little more than a sci-fi pipe dream.<\/a> But now researchers from Japan’s Shizuoka University appear determined to bring the concept to reality — they’re ready to conduct the first test of elevator movement in space.<\/p> WHAT IS THIS? A SPACE ELEVATOR FOR ANTS? <\/strong>The Japanese team plans to test its space elevator design using a scaled-down version of the system — way scaled-down. The “elevator” in the test is a box only six centimeters (2.4 inches) long and three centimeters (1.1 inches) high and wide (at full scale, the box will be large enough to transport actual supplies to space).<\/p> On September 11, Japan’s space agency will launch an H-2B rocket carrying two mini satellites, one of which will contain the elevator stand-in. Once in space, motors will power the box like a celestial tightrope walker along a cable strung between the two mini satellites positioned 10 meters (10.9 yards) apart from one another. Cameras on the satellites will monitor the motorized motion of the box.<\/p> CHEAPER (MAYBE). <\/strong>This movement is definitely easier to do in space than it will be between Earth and space (we don’t have a material strong enough<\/a> to handle those forces involved, at least not yet).<\/p> If Japan (or anyone) can successfully create a space elevator, we could have a low-cost way to deliver supplies and people to space — some experts predict the devices could cut the cost<\/a> of transporting goods from $22,000 per kilogram ($10,000 per pound) to just $220 per kilogram ($100 per pound).<\/p> Of course, reusable rockets<\/a> are already making space transportation much cheaper, so by the time space elevators are finally ready for action, we might not even need<\/em> them. But the fact that Japan is at least taking the tech for a test drive is still pretty cool.<\/p> READ MORE:<\/strong> Japan Preps First Test for Its Awesome ‘Space Elevator’<\/a> [Digital Trends<\/em>]<\/p> More on space elevators: Space Elevators: From Science Fiction to Reality<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p> The post Japan Will Soon Conduct The First Test of Elevator Movement in Space<\/a> appeared first on Futurism<\/a>.<\/p> Originally posted here: GOING (WAY) UP.\u00a0 For more than a century, the scientific community has kicked around the idea of space elevators. Continue reading
Japan Will Soon Conduct The First Test of Elevator Movement in Space<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"