Is it possible to make a cable for a space elevator out of carbon nanotubes? Not anytime soon, if ever, says Nicola Pugno of the Polytechnic of Turin, Italy. Pugno's calculations show that inevitable defects in the nanotubes mean that such a cable simply wouldn't be strong enough.
Advances in nanotechnology and nanotubes have brought the age-old idea of a space elevator within reach.
An advance in carbon nanotubes has moved the concept of a space elevator from science fiction to reality.
NASA scientists are developing the concept of a 'space elevator', a revolutionary space transportation technique. The article discusses the importance of advancements in materials technologies, such as nanotechnology, for the success of the project.