Long, Stretchy Carbon Nanotubes Could Make Space Elevators Possible
Friday, January 23, 2009 - 13:28
in Astronomy & Space
(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists from Cambridge University have developed a light, flexible, and strong type of carbon nanotube material that may bring space elevators closer to reality. Motivated by a $4 million prize from NASA, the scientists found a way to combine multiple separate nanotubes together to form long strands. Until now, carbon nanotubes have been too brittle to be formed into such long pieces.