Space Elevator to be ready by 2050. Press a button and you are in space. Details here

Imagine you are a space tourist and you are lifted off 22,000 miles above the Earth, all at the click of a button. The touch of this elevator button could lift people above the earth and afford a view of the planet Earth, never seen before. This is precisely what the Japanese are attempting. It has been reported by the 'Sun'. However, it won’t be before 2050 when the tourists are lifted into space. This giant space elevator would cost as much as $100 billion.

Unimaginable plans
Generally, it takes six to eight months to travel to the planet Mars from Earth. However, this elevator could take as short as three to four months or even as early as 40 days. According to NASA, the distance between the two planets is about 140 million miles. This idea is full of challenges and risks as it has to go through the weather challenges and instability in space.


Obayashi Corporation is the brain behind this space elevator. It has had a record of constructing the 2080-foot-high Tokyo Sky Tree Tower. The firm said that the passengers would experience a ride into space like a simple train journey. This project’s construction was announced 20 years back and its construction has begun.

Floating Port
The company is presently involved in design, research and promotions. They would need to raise funds and have partnerships with different companies and industries to ensure the success of this project.

This structure would float on the sea at the equator, while a terminal will be placed in a geostationary orbit about 36,000 km above Earth. It would be accessible from an undersea tunnel.

The port will also serve as the point for departure and arrival.

Zero Gravity
It will have a weightless environment and visitors will be able to move in zero gravity conditions. A counterweight will balance the effects of gravity. The company is currently experimenting with a long cable that will connect the Earth and space.

What are the risks?
Lightning could cause the tethers of this elevator to snap. Large storms could also raise the risk of danger to the spacecraft.

FAQs:

1. Who came up with the idea of the space elevator?
Russian space scientist Konstantin Tsiolkovsky came up with the idea of a space elevator. This was in 1895.

2. Has any company launched any space tourism project?
Space X which is owned by Elon Musk has launched a package for cosmic travel. The company has opened up bookings.