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From toothbrushes to aerospace: Graphene research advances fibers that conduct heat efficiently
Developing
In Short: The International Space Elevator Consortium highlights progress in graphene manufacturing for Earth-based space elevators, aiming for cheaper space travel.
The International Space Elevator Consortium (ISEC) is emphasizing rapid advancements in graphene manufacturing, which could enable the construction of a space elevator, or 'Spaceline,' on Earth.
According to ISEC's calculations, high-performance fibers made from polycrystalline graphene, a material composed of many crystalline regions, could support such a structure.
The consortium's current materials guidance identifies single-crystal graphene as the ultimate target for space elevator cables, though polycrystalline graphene has seen the fastest manufacturing progress.
Graphene's potential applications extend beyond space elevators, with ISEC also exploring a Moon-anchored Spaceline as another route to cheaper space travel.
What's still developing
- Their “Spaceline” would experience dramatically different forces and, according to their calculations, could be supported with high-performance fibers already manufactured today.
- ISEC's current architecture envisions cables roughly 100,000 kilometers long, and the organization identifies graphene among the leading material candidates.
Sources
- Thebrightersidelink