Is pushing the limits of ultra-high strength material R&D

 

Our Mission

Our mission began in 2005, in response to the commission of the Tether Challenge.  Established by NASA, under the Centennial Challenge Program, it aimed to spur creative, agile, and lean R&D teams into developing new high strength materials: of which could be used in future space based tether applications.  We responded.

Composed of experts in aerospace engineering and technologies, including composite and material science, we are ideally suited for this task.  This is one of the reasons why we have attracted Sponsors in the aerospace industry, of the highest regard.  Not only have we already pushed the boundaries of material strength, as the world knows it  - we are poised to make the greatest material advancement of this millennia...using carbon nanotubes.

A prize purse of $1M is available in 2008, from the NASA Tether Challenge, to the developers of a large leap in material technology.  Although we had competed in the past (2006/2007) and hold the record for the best performing entries to date, the requirements to win were raised to radically high levels in 2006: currently 2X our best.  This change is roughly equivalent to bidding for a river bridge project and the contractor then telling you they want to cross the Strait of Gibraltar.  Although theoretically possible, we do not have the resources to risk towards these lofty of competition requirements.

We need your support to continue with our past progress - unless immediate changes are made, we will not be able to make the material improvements anticipated.  The full extent of our developments have not been disclosed publicly, and hold great potential for the future of the Space Elevator.  Either contact Spaceward (competition manager) and tell them that they need to reduce their requirements to a competitive level (NASA is a publicly controlled organization); or you can contribute to us directly.  This goal requires everyone's help, including yours, if we are to make it.

Contact Us

 

Tethers in Space (TSS-1, 1992)

 

Potential Space Elevator (2015?)

 

 Our Achievements
 

Our achievements over the past three years have been nothing short of amazing!

In preparation for the 2006 Tether Challenge, we developed the undisputed strongest tether in the world, for its weight.  With an ultimate strength of 5+ GPa (700,000+ psi), specific strength of 3.0+ GPa/g/cc, and a freestanding length of 6+ feet, no competitor had been able to come close to besting our tether.  It is being evaluated for a patent, by our Sponsor at the time; and has seen interest from NASA.

No competitor had been able to outperform our entry, in the 2007 Tether Challenge - and we expect it to hold its record in 2008.

 

 

In addition to considerable media exposure, we have had the pleasure of being part of a documentary, 'The Mighty Tether'.  Just recently completed, it is being submitted to some of the national's premiere film festivals; and has been viewed to  much acclaim.

View or Download Trailer

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Team
 

Our Team: Michael Remington, Kurt Fierstein, Greg Fazzio, Dave Ortiz

Alumni:  Bob Bertolucci, Brett Cowley-Crawford, Dave Carroll

Associates:  John Sebastien, Brian Muller, and many others...

Predecessors:  First spiders in space (Skylab 1973)....hence astroaraneae

 

Our Sponsors
 

Our past sponsor had been Aerojet, who had seen an opportunity to help us achieve an attainable goal - surpass 2005 competition levels (NASA Tether Challenge).  Although they had been great to us, we have lacked active sponsorship since 2007.

Our rate of progress, and the level of technology we develop can be directly impacted by your contributions, large or small.   We need your help!  Don't just dream or talk about nanotube tethers - make an immediate difference by contributing to our team!!

               

 

Our Newest Sponsor (you)

 

 Please contact us about supporting these goals.