Background Information
The Idea of the "Space Elevator"
The fundamental idea of the “space elevator” goes back to 1895, when the scientist Konstantin Tsiolkovsky considered building a tower from the surface of the Earth and reaching into the geostationary orbit of space. The Artsutanov paper – 1960 – proposed a way to build a tensile structure to the geostationary orbit of space. The aim was and still is, among other objectives, to deliver payload – for example equipment, items, satellites etc. - to space in an economically viable way. This idea could be an alternative solution to the expansive use of rockets.
The actual concept of the space elevator system includes a tether reaching from the surface of the Earth to the geostationary orbit. To keep the tether taut by means of gravitational and rotational forces, the center of mass of the space elevator has to be kept above this orbit. A climber is attached to the tether, which carries the payload up to the space station or to the satellite. The energy supply is planned to be realized by “power beaming” (such as laser), as well as using solar cells.
European Space Elevator Challenge
The challenge is to establish a climber structure in compliance with predetermined requirements (see General Rules and Requirements).
Our focus is on:
- the efficiency of the climber
- the technical implementation of the climber (especially payload systems)
- aspects which directly impact the development of the “real” space elevator system
Our main aims of the European Space Elevator Challenge are:
- to inspire young engineers and scientists with the idea of the space elevator system and moreover to establish a larger European space elevator community
- to increase our understanding of the space elevator system by exchanging experiences, -also utilizing these experiences for the development of a real space elevator system
- to introduce the space elevator concept to the public
These aims are considered as long-term goals and cannot be accomplished with one competition. Hence, our goal is to organize the European Space Elevator Challenge annually. The European challenge offers participants the opportunity to participate in two while later competitions will have up to four levels (see also section 3 General Rules and Requirements).
The Organizers
The European Space Elevator Challenge is organized by WARR, the Scientific Workgroup for Rocketry and Spaceflight of the Technische Universität München (TUM). The members are mostly enrolled and alumni students from different institutes of the TUM. WARR was founded in 1962 and is the oldest scientific workgroup of the TUM. The aim of WARR is to provide its members with the opportunity to accomplish scientific work as an addition to their studies.
