They are actually doing something. I'm obviously too cynical and narrow-minded (insular would also be a reasonable word to use here, I think). Still, like the man said, it's a 'trillion-dollar moneymaker'. Come to think of it, what would a trillion-dollars look like in Rand?
The lifters are early prototypes of the technology that the company is developing for use in its commercial space elevator to ferry cargo back and forth into space.
The tests, which are planned for early fall, will simulate a working space elevator by launching a model elevator “ribbon” attached to moored balloon initially up to a mile high. The robotic lifters will then be tested in their ability to climb up and down the free-hanging ribbon, marking the first-ever test of this technology in the development of the space elevator concept.
I'll keep track of this - would like to see some images of these balloons and their ribbons...
When is 'early fall'? Would that be early spring in the Southern Hemisphere?
No comments:
Post a Comment