Space Elevator

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/space/11/05/space.elevator/index.html

Two new visitor centers for Spaceport America.

Spaceport America is going to open up two visitor centers:

http://www.elpasotimes.com/newmexico/ci_13565599

Commercializing space taking longer than predicted.

http://www.nmpolitics.net/index/2009/10/commercializing-space-taking-longer-than-predicted/

Space Elevator Games

Elevator:2010 - The Space Elevator Challenge

Follow the games on the Space Elevator Games Offical Web Site



•We are practically there! This week marked the beginning of the home stretch - just a few more weeks till the games.
•The teams are ready, Dryden is ready, the helicopter operator is ready - we're sure you are ready too.
•(TBA), NASA Dryden Research Center.
•Follow us there!
www.SpaceElevatorGames.org
Climbing The Sky
The dream of a Space Elevator is a monumental one. A vision that will not only further space exploration and knowledge, but has the potential to shape the existential future of the human race for centuries to come.

For the first time since it was initially conceived, this dream is now within our reach.

With the Elevator:2010 challenge, the Spaceward Foundation has joined the on-going construction effort, adding energy, resources and new initiatives to the ever-growing number of organizations, companies, websites and enthusiasts focused on the technical, political and economic development of the Space Elevator.

Our goal is to generate enough interest in the project, so that within five years the Space Elevator basic building blocks can be demonstrated as feasible, and full-scale design and construction can begin.

And hence our name. Elevator:2010. we promise to get an answer for you by then.



Competition
Elevator:2010 is designed to address the "social engineering" of the Space Elevator. Taking our cue from the X-prize, solar car races, and various other competitive ventures, we use engineering competitions as a tool to capture mindshare in academia, space enthusiast community, and the general public. If we can have even 10 universities and 100 engineering students involved with the Space Elevator project each year, we'd have left our mark on the aerospace community.

In the days of airships, the advocates of planes devised a new way to promote their (obviously impractical...) inventions. It was called an "air show", and it had a dual purpose: First, these pioneers knew that they could explain airplanes all they wanted using equations and diagrams - it was not until they showed them flying that they really got their message across. Second, they recognized the power of competition - by bringing together airplane enthusiasts in a competitive environment, they were able to accelerate the rate of development beyond what was likely in the isolated confines of their shops.

Our goal is to infect the engineering and science community with our passion for building the Space Elevator, thus making them ambassadors to our cause. As the fruits of their efforts take to the sky every year, we will have demonstrated the feasibility and sheer simplicity of the Space Elevator concept, and will have brought it closer to reality.

Our prize money is provided by NASA's Centennial Challenges program - a total of $4,000,000 over the next 5 years! To maximize our return and reduce our risk, we distribute the money in slowly increasing increments, as we ratchet up the difficulty level of the challenges.

Successful launch!

White Knight II

Ground is broken for Spaceport America

Monday, July 13, 2009

LAS CRUCES, NM – The New Mexico Spaceport Authority (NMSA) has selected two contractors to provide services for the construction of Spaceport America, the world's first purpose-built commercial spaceport that is now being built in southern New Mexico. After reviewing proposals from several contractors, the NMSA Board of Directors awarded construction of the airfield to David Montoya Construction, Inc. The board also awarded the Site Enabling contract to FNF New Mexico, LLC. The airfield for Spaceport America is a 10,000-foot runway designed to accommodate horizontal launch space and air operations that complement the existing vertical launch infrastructure. David Montoya Construction, Inc., of Alameda, NM, has provided construction services on many large-scale projects since being established in 1985. The company has provided similar concrete paving services for Albuquerque International Airport and Holloman Air Force Base in Alamogordo. David Montoya Construction, Inc., is recognized by the Hispanic Business Magazine as one of the top 500 Hispanicowned businesses in the United States.

FNF New Mexico, LLC, of Albuquerque, NM, has extensive experience in large-scale construction projects including airports and highway construction. FNF will design and execute a plan to facilitate the construction of the spaceport. The activities include preparing the site for construction and coordination with all contractors for site security, dust control, and other crucial functions. Less than one month after the groundbreaking of Spaceport America, NMSA officials are excited by the current pace of development. "Spaceport America is fully underway, and we continue to make rapid progress," said Steve Landeene, Executive Director for the NMSA. "NMSA will continue to issue Request for Proposals (RFPs) and Invitations to Bid (ITB) for more services and construction at the spaceport, and awarding contracts to the best qualified contractors." The latest RFP/ITB information can be found online at www.spaceportamerica.com

Gerald Martin Construction Management and HDR of Albuquerque, NM, were awarded a contract in 2008 to oversee the spaceport's construction phase for the NMSA. After marking the official groundbreaking ceremony for Spaceport America on Friday, June 19, officials are moving forward with the construction of the airfield. Spaceport America plans to have the 10,000-foot airfield complete by late summer 2010 with the Terminal Hangar Facility projected to be complete by early 2011.

Road nearly completed.

06/06/2009 03:13 PM MDT
TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES - Work is nearing completion on a $6.8 million roadway that leads to Spaceport America from Truth or Consequences, a state official saidt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344396587729148290" />.