Space Elevator Technology Advances With Competitions in Japan, USA

The Space Elevator (SE) concept, which may revolutionize the future of human space travel, will be the focus of 2 events held in Japan and USA. On November 3, Japan Space Elevator Association (JSEA) will hold LASER’09 (LEGO bricks Activity and Space Elevator Race 2009) in Tokyo, Japan. 30 teams consisting of school children will create a remote-controlled climber made of LEGO bricks which will ascend a 25mm wide, 5m long polyester-tether hung from the ceiling. Hideyuki Natsume, Director of LASER ’09, says the event is aimed to teach young children about SE technology. On Nov 2-7, The SE Power Beaming Competition will take place at NASA Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The competition, now in its 4th year, will have 4 teams set to compete for US$2 Million. The laser-powered robots must climb a 1 km long cable suspended vertically from a hovering helicopter. To be eligible for the prize, vehicles must go up the vertical steel cable at an average speed of 5m / second. Already in progress this week is the 6th International Symposium on Beamed Energy Propulsion (BEP) in Scottsdale AZ. BEP technology is set to advance space transportation using lasers. Unlike traditional methods of propulsion, BEP propulsive mechanisms include blast waves, ablation, photon pressure, vaporization, photodesorption. Vehicles driven by BEP will be smaller, lighter, faster, and more efficient. (Credit: JSEA, LEGO, The Spaceward Foundation, spacelevatorgames.org)

JUSTSAP Forum Strives To Bridge USA, Japan Space Technology Cooperation

Waikoloa, Hawaii Island will once again serve as host to the Japan-U.S. Science, Technology and Space Applications Program (JUSTSAP) from November 8-11. This year’s theme is “Asia-Pacific Strategies and Projects for the New Space Age,” and includes participation from Hawaii State government officials Jim Crisafulli (Director of Office of Aerospace Development) and former Governor George Ariyoshi, NASA’s Dr. John Olson and Charles Miller, JUSTSAP Vice Chairs Frank Schowengerdt and Osamu Odawara and others from USA, Japan and Europe. The 4 recurring discussion themes throughout the event are energy independence, commercial space development, Earth observation and space exploration. Touted as “a unique association of scientists, business executives, government officials, educators and students from Japan and the United States with a common interest in space exploration,” the annual event has traditionally and solely focused on interactions between the USA and Japan. One promising plenary session titled “Reorganizing JUSTSAP” may change this, however. Lead by JUSTSAP Chair Stephen Day (CEO of International Adventures), the session / discussion will cover “Global Niche and Mission Organization,” “Synergy with other Multinationals,” and “New Name.” This session may provide the dynamic boost JUSTSAP needs to include possible outreach and cooperation with the other prominent Asia-Pacific spacefaring nations such as China, India, Russia, Korea and others. (Credit: NASA, JUSTSAP, munoz-group.net, hawaiinewsnow.com, Fairmont Orchid)