An Elevator Into Space

From September 12th to 15th, a large white gas balloon hovered over the Garching campus of the Technical University of Munich. There was, as might be suspected, a promotion behind it. In fact, the helium-filled balloon was part of a scientific project: Supported by Linde, young scientists and engineers during the “European Space Elevator Challenge” showed how they would imagine transportation into space in the future: people and materials should be taken to space by elevator become.

An elevator into space is theoretically possible

With the introduction of a space elevator, enormous costs could be saved compared to the rockets previously required. And theoretically, that would actually be feasible, the members of the Scientific Working Group for Missile Technology and Space Travel (WARR) at the Technical University of Munich are convinced. Practically, however, there is currently no suitable material for the elevator rope that could withstand the extreme loads. However, corresponding ideas do exist: Several teams from Germany and Japan competed against each other with their lifts in the “European Space Elevator Challenge” organized by WARR to determine the best technology.

64 cubic meters of helium carry an aramid rope up

It didn't go into space, but it went quite high. Because the so-called climbers had to climb on a rope made of aramid to a height of 100 meters. The rope was attached to a balloon - filled with 64 cubic meters of helium. The industrial gas manufacturer Linde made the noble gas available free of charge. A matter of honor, because after all, the company was founded by Carl von Linde himself, a real visionary. Various systems were used to achieve the goal. The Climber, launched by WARR, for example, is driven by an electric motor and accelerates from zero to one hundred in three-quarters of a second.