A Tethered Tower being hoisted in a balloon test (Credits: LiftPort).

A Tethered Tower being hoisted in a balloon test (Credits: LiftPort).

Space elevators are usually the realm of science fiction, but Michael J. Laine is determined to build a real one. He first founded LiftPort in 2003 to develop technology for a Tethered Tower – a ribbon-like construct stretching towards space for robots to climb. The company encountered economic and legal difficulties and had to disband in 2007. But in the summer of 2012, LiftPort 2.0 came into being. Here, Laine speaks with Moonandback about the new reboot and the 3,468 Kickstarter supporters that made it happen.

Michael J. Laine 01 from Moonandback Media on Vimeo.

 

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We are a magazine-style web site devoted to the coverage of space, with an emphasis on personal and commercial spaceflight. We endeavor to document the dawn of this new epoch and encourage career choice in space-related fields. Content from moonandback is provided to Space Safety Magazine by agreement with Moonandback Media LLC.