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Is pushing the limits of ultra-high strength material R&D
Our Mission |
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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
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Tethers in Space (TSS-1, 1992)
Potential Space Elevator (2015?) |
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Our Achievements
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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.
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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
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Our Team
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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
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Our Sponsors
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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!!
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Our Newest Sponsor (you) |
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Please
contact
us about supporting these goals.
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