Project Ascensio Space Elevator

Dreams of Earth and Sky, an 1895 collection of essays by Russian mathematician Konstantin E. Tsiolkovsky, contains one of the first abstract conceptions of a space elevator, an idea that has repeatedly appeared in sci-fi writings in the years since. With material advances, the space elevator could be a realistic replacement for relatively inefficient rockets and their limited payloads. To that end, architect Jordan William Hughes of England was awarded the Jacques Rogerie Foundation's Architecture and Innovation for Space Grand Prix Award for his Ascensio space elevator. The concept envisions a space station in geostationary orbit, attached by a tether through the atmosphere to a mobile seafaring platform. The Ascensio concept would allow for expanded delivery windows and greater stability and safety compared to ground-based or airborne launch systems. The materials required to sustain the tether's weight aren't here yet, but carbon nanotubes and graphene filaments offer promising pathways to making the concept a reality.

Photos: Jordan William Hughes

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