Project GRAKSLER
An elevator travels directly to an altitude of at least 36,000 kilometers on an extremely tear-resistant cable. The top of the rope is attached to a space station or satellite. When the center of gravity of the system is in geostationary orbit, gravity and centrifugal force balance each other out. The rope is then permanently tensioned above a single point over the ground.
Most of the technology required to build the actual elevator is already available today. The greatest challenge at the moment is the manufacture of a rope that can withstand the enormous forces. Currently carbon nanotubes are a promising material.
The Space Elevator could transport payloads into space more safely and at a lower cost than before. In contrast to traditional rocket launches, rocket fuel would only have to be carried to transport the spacecraft past geostationary orbit, using electrical energy to climb up the rope instead of fighting gravity with the chemical energy from rocket engines. This would allow Interplanetary missions to start directly out of a higher earth orbit, saving a lot of fuel, mass and cost.
Vision
The sky is no longer the limit: An impressive structure often depicted in sci-fi movies and videogames a space elevator could be the solution to cheap and efficient space launches, opening up new horizons by making space more accessible and launches cheaper. The cheap and relatively easy transport of materials could usher in an area of orbital construction, allowing huge space ships to be built in “shipyards” in orbit, without having to take aerodynamics and launch costs into account.
Mission
Our current project is the “Graksler 4.0”, which should have greater stability with more lightweight components. A more precise production and better maintainability should be possible through a modular structure.
Concept
With a lightweight construction and an electric motor, the GRAKSLER is supposed to demonstrate the technologies necessary to have a climber used to transport payload up and down a space elevator.
Progress
After a short excursion designing and building the climber mini last semester, the team is returning to the design of the GRAKSLER 4.0, ironing out the last design problems, and commencing manufacturing, working with different materials such as carbon fiber and aluminium to minimize the weight as much as possible.
EUSPEC
EUSPEC (The EUropean SPace Elevator Challenge) is a Space Elevator Challenge that is organized and hosted by the WARR. In it, different space elevator teams build their climbers in compliance with the requirements set by the EUSPEC and get to show off their progress climbing up (and down) a rope. The goal is to share experience between the different teams and to provide opportunities for students to apply their knowledge.
The next EUSPEC will take place in April of 2024, follow the link below for more information and to sign up your team.