International Space Elevator Consortium
September 2014 Newsletter

In this Issue:

Editor’s Note
President’s Corner
ISEC Reports
Two Documentaries

Dear Friend,

Welcome to the September, 2014 edition of the ISEC eNewsletter.

In this issue's President's Corner, ISEC President Dr. Peter Swan challenges readers to provide input on why humanity wants and needs a space elevator.  We also provide the first entry to this challenge, this from Art Dula of the Heinlein Prize Trust.  If you would like to submit your own reason as to why we all need a space elevator, please email it to pete.swan@isec.org.

This eNewsletter also lets you know about (not one but) two Kickstarter campaigns, aimed at raising money to finalize documentaries about the space elevator - we encourage you to visit the Kickstarter sites and financially support one or both of these worthy campaigns.  And, due to popular demand, the ISEC reports are now available in electronic (pdf) format - this eNewsletter shows you how to order your own copies.

Please don’t forget to LIKE US on Facebook, FOLLOW US on Twitter, and enjoy the photos and videos that we’ve posted on Flickr and YouTube, all under our Social Identity of ISECdotORG.

Thank you! 

ISEC

President's Corner

Why Space Elevators?    To Change the World!

This goal, when reached, will provide routine, daily, massive payloads to mission locations, smooth rides, and at less than $500/kg to GEO. This infrastructure enables humanity to expand into our solar system while improving life on Earth with revolutionary technologies and missions.  These new capabilities reach across the spectrum to include: space solar power (zero carbon footprint), commercial expansion of GEO (comm-sats, weather prediction, new missions) and renewed hope for the future.

This month we open a forum in our newsletter to address: "Why the Space Elevator?"  I hope this will stimulate discussions and thoughts.

"Keep Climbing my Friends!" 

Pete Swan

ISEC Reports now available in electronic format

Each year, ISEC produces a report about a specific topic, targeted towards increasing our understanding of the Space Elevator.  Each report is designed to provide a broad, definitive and current look at the topic in question. They are also intended to counteract some of the misinformation that is so prevalent about the Space Elevator.

ISEC has produced three reports so far:

Space Debris Mitigation - Space Elevator Survivability.  One of the objections often raised to the idea of a space elevator is in regards to space debris.  Won't this be a showstopper?  The answer is "no" and this report details why this is so.

Space Elevator Concept of Operations.  This report presents the current thinking on how a fully developed commercial space elevator will operate. It draws on the experiences of the study participants and the authors who have over eleven decades of major space system acquisitions and operations experience. While the development of Space Elevator tethers and climbers is a daunting task, their operation will leverage 50 years of satellite operations experience.

Design Considerations for Space Elevator Tether Climbers.  This report establishes a baseline for designing the climbers. It addresses a critical aspect of the space elevator infrastructure: the tether climber. The tether climber will leverage 60 years of spacecraft design while incorporating aspects of traditional terrestrial transportation infrastructure.

These reports have been (and continue to be) available in print form, but are now also available in electronic (.pdf) format at a very reasonable price.

Please visit the ISEC Store to learn more and to purchase your own copies.

Update: They are now free on our Study Reports page.

Two Space Elevator Documentaries

Kickstarter campaigns have been launched to finalize not one, but TWO documentaries about the Space Elevator and the people and organizations trying to build them.

Sky Line is a documentary being created by Going Up! Films because, in their words: For the past several years, the SKY LINE team has been following the space elevator community as they pursue a seemingly impossible vision. From attending various scientific gatherings, to covering NASA's high-stakes Space Elevator Games, we got to know the major players and watch their successes and struggles, both personal and professional.  As we wrap up filming and head into post-production, we're asking for your help with finishing funds, so we can bring this fascinating story to life.

Update: Sky Line is now available here.

Shoot the Moon is a documentary targeting LiftPort and their effort to build a Lunar Space Elevator.  From the Press Release: Bad Character is proud to announce the launch of a Kickstarter campaign to fund the production of Shoot The Moon, a feature-length documentary about the race to build a space elevator. Seattle-based LiftPort Group will send a robot up the tallest free-standing human structure in existence -- a 30,000-foot tether -- in their biggest experiment yet, and Shoot The Moon will capture it on film. When the test is complete, it will be the highest a robot has ever gone without the help of rockets or an airplane.  The chance of failure is real. The robot could come crashing down 5.68 miles to Earth and crush a 14-year dream and the space elevator idea. If it's a success, we could well be watching a revolution in commercial space ventures...

You can visit the Shoot the Moon Kickstarter website here.

We here at ISEC encourage you to visit their websites and to financially support one or both of their efforts.  Thank you!