nanoREV.

Hopes for carbon nanotube space elevator

Basic concepts of a “space elevator” predate the development of rocket-based space travel but have always lacked a practical system or materials to achieve the objective. Recently, as reported in a TimesOnline article, a team of British scientists led by Alan Windle have developed a process for manufacturing carbon nanotube ribbons which could be one step closer to a feasible space elevator system. Prof. Windle already has several patents pending for carbon nanotube production and alignment (e.g. US 2006/0133982) and at least one U.S. patent (US 6,981,674) has been issued to space elevators which mention carbon nanotubes.