Photos & More from 1,000-ft Robot Test
I’ve just uploaded some photos and a video from the Sept. 20, 2005 test of the lifter robot going to 1,000 feet. Nyein or someone who was there will have to provide the full details, but here’s a brief summary.
There were three tests with the robot. One went up to 150 feet, one went to 550 feet, and one went to roughly 1,000 feet. Because of some problems with the ribbon, the crew was limited to using only one balloon, which meant there wasn’t as much tension in the ribbon as desired. Once we upgrade the ribbon, we should be set to use more balloons to generate more lift. But for the tests done this week, things went relatively smoothly.
September 24th, 2005 at 8:39 am
I just wanted to say, that this space elevator this is running way behind. Because according to the Jetsons, this should have been done a long time ago. Work faster.
September 25th, 2005 at 2:55 pm
What are you using for the ribbon right now?
September 29th, 2005 at 9:09 am
C 60 filament is the only thing hard enough on Earth to use for the filament ribbon. This is something out of Arthur C. Clarke’s brain!
September 30th, 2005 at 10:39 am
We had been using a fiberglass tape, but it only came in rolls 300 feet long, so it required stitching (we used three layers, each offset by 100 feet). Our next ribbon should be a single unit, and probably a different material.