Elevators could soon take astronauts to the moon, study reveals
University of Cambridge
and
Columbia University
proposes a futuristic but feasible method for
lunar travel
:
space elevators
. Rather than relying on expensive, fuel-hungry rockets, this new approach envisions a thin, ultra-strong cable stretching from the moon to Earth's orbit.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
This "spaceline" could dramatically reduce mission costs and energy consumption, potentially making travel to the moon as routine as launching satellites today. Using existing materials like carbon-based polymers, scientists believe such an elevator could become operational within decades, revolutionizing the way humans explore space.
How the lunar elevator would work
Unlike a traditional Earth-based space elevator, which would require materials that don't yet exist, the moon-based design minimizes gravitational tension.
Anchored on the moon and extending to Earth's geostationary orbit, the cable would let spacecraft dock and move along it without heavy fuel.
Lower costs, higher access
Launching payloads via the spaceline could reduce fuel needs by up to two-thirds, slashing the cost of space missions. This would make frequent lunar expeditions, scientific missions, and commercial projects far more feasible.
Lower operational costs could encourage international cooperation and even private investment in lunar exploration.
The elevator might serve as a long-term, reusable asset rather than a one-time rocket launch.
The Lagrange point advantage
The elevator would pass through the Earth-moon Lagrange point, a stable gravity-neutral zone ideal for space infrastructure. Scientists view it as the perfect site for building orbital labs, telescopes, and staging grounds for interplanetary missions.
Its unique environment reduces collision risks with debris and enables long-term maintenance of sensitive scientific instruments.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
A gateway to permanent space presence
If built, the spaceline could enable a sustainable human presence in space by simplifying travel between Earth, the moon, and key orbital locations. Lunar bases, research stations, and space factories could all become part of daily operations.
It marks a shift from one-off moon landings to a long-term presence beyond Earth, paving the way for humanity's deeper reach into the solar system.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Economic Times
2 hours ago
- Economic Times
NASA's Perseverance rover delivers high-resolution Mars panorama from Jezero Crater rim
Synopsis NASA's Perseverance rover has captured one of its sharpest panoramas yet from the Jezero Crater rim on Mars. The enhanced-color mosaic, assembled from 96 Mastcam-Z images, reveals 'float rocks,' sand ripples, and a geologic boundary, providing detailed views of some of the oldest terrain explored during the mission NASA's Perseverance rover captured this enhanced-color panorama from the Jezero Crater rim on Mars, showing float rocks, sand ripples, and a geologic boundary between olivine-rich and clay-bearing rocks NASA's Perseverance rover has produced a high-resolution panorama from a location called 'Falbreen' on the rim of Jezero Crater. The mosaic, assembled from 96 images taken by the Mastcam-Z instrument on May 26, 2025, the mission's 1,516th Martian day, or sol, offers one of the clearest views recorded so enhanced-color version of the image shows the Martian sky with a blue tint, while the natural-color version reveals its typical reddish hue. 'Our bold push for human space exploration will send astronauts back to the Moon,' said Sean Duffy, acting NASA administrator. 'Stunning vistas like that of Falbreen, captured by our Perseverance rover, are just a glimpse of what we'll soon witness with our own eyes. NASA's groundbreaking missions, starting with Artemis, will propel our unstoppable journey to take human space exploration to the Martian surface.' Also read: Trump orders NASA to kill 2 satellites that can function for many more years - the reason will shock all Jim Bell, principal investigator for Mastcam-Z at Arizona State University, noted that relatively dust-free skies gave a clear view of surrounding terrain. Enhanced color contrast was applied to highlight differences between the terrain and sky. Geologic features include float rock and boundary line The panorama features a large rock situated atop a dark, crescent-shaped sand ripple about 14 feet (4.4 meters) from the rover. Known as a 'float rock,' it likely originated elsewhere and was transported to its current location, possibly before the sand ripple notable element is an abrasion patch near the image's center, marking the 43rd rock Perseverance has abraded. The patch, two inches (5 centimeters) wide, allows scientists to study the unweathered interior of a rock before deciding to extract a core sample. The abrasion was made on May 22, followed by proximity science observations on May from the rover's path to Falbreen are visible along the mosaic's right edge, curving left toward a prior research site called 'Kenmore.' Midway through the panorama, lighter-toned olivine-rich rocks transition to darker, clay-bearing rocks that are believed to be much Jet Propulsion Laboratory, managed by Caltech, operates Perseverance for NASA's Science Mission Directorate as part of the Mars Exploration Program. Arizona State University leads Mastcam-Z operations in collaboration with Malin Space Science Systems.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
NASA's Perseverance rover delivers high-resolution Mars panorama from Jezero Crater rim
NASA's Perseverance rover has produced a high-resolution panorama from a location called 'Falbreen' on the rim of Jezero Crater . The mosaic, assembled from 96 images taken by the Mastcam-Z instrument on May 26, 2025, the mission's 1,516th Martian day, or sol, offers one of the clearest views recorded so far. The enhanced-color version of the image shows the Martian sky with a blue tint, while the natural-color version reveals its typical reddish hue. 'Our bold push for human space exploration will send astronauts back to the Moon,' said Sean Duffy, acting NASA administrator. 'Stunning vistas like that of Falbreen, captured by our Perseverance rover, are just a glimpse of what we'll soon witness with our own eyes. NASA's groundbreaking missions, starting with Artemis, will propel our unstoppable journey to take human space exploration to the Martian surface.' Productivity Tool Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide By Metla Sudha Sekhar View Program Finance Introduction to Technical Analysis & Candlestick Theory By Dinesh Nagpal View Program Finance Financial Literacy i e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By CA Rahul Gupta View Program Digital Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel By Neil Patel View Program Finance Technical Analysis Demystified- A Complete Guide to Trading By Kunal Patel View Program Productivity Tool Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide By Study at home View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program In this natural-color version of the 'Falbreen' panorama, colors have not been enhanced and the sky appears more reddish. Visible still is Perseverance's 43rd rock abrasion (the white patch at center-left). The 96 images stitched together to create this 360-degree view were acquired May 26, 2025. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Undo Also read: Trump orders NASA to kill 2 satellites that can function for many more years - the reason will shock all Jim Bell, principal investigator for Mastcam-Z at Arizona State University, noted that relatively dust-free skies gave a clear view of surrounding terrain. Enhanced color contrast was applied to highlight differences between the terrain and sky. Live Events Geologic features include float rock and boundary line The panorama features a large rock situated atop a dark, crescent-shaped sand ripple about 14 feet (4.4 meters) from the rover. Known as a 'float rock,' it likely originated elsewhere and was transported to its current location, possibly before the sand ripple formed. Another notable element is an abrasion patch near the image's center, marking the 43rd rock Perseverance has abraded. The patch, two inches (5 centimeters) wide, allows scientists to study the unweathered interior of a rock before deciding to extract a core sample. The abrasion was made on May 22, followed by proximity science observations on May 24. Tracks from the rover's path to Falbreen are visible along the mosaic's right edge, curving left toward a prior research site called 'Kenmore.' Midway through the panorama, lighter-toned olivine-rich rocks transition to darker, clay-bearing rocks that are believed to be much older. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, managed by Caltech, operates Perseverance for NASA's Science Mission Directorate as part of the Mars Exploration Program. Arizona State University leads Mastcam-Z operations in collaboration with Malin Space Science Systems.
NDTV
6 hours ago
- NDTV
World Experienced Third-Warmest July On Record This Year: EU Monitor
Rome: The world experienced its third-warmest July on record this year, the European Union agency that tracks global warming said Thursday, with temperatures easing slightly for the month as compared with the record high two years ago. Despite the slightly lower global average temperature, scientists said extreme heat and deadly flooding persisted in July. "Two years after the hottest July on record, the recent streak of global temperature records is over - for now. But this doesn't mean climate change has stopped," said Carlo Buontempo, director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service. "We continued to witness the effects of a warming world." The EU monitoring agency said new temperature records and more climate extremes are to be expected unless greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere are brought down. On July 25, Turkey recorded its highest-ever temperature of 50.5 C (122.9 F) as it battled wildfires. While not as hot as July 2023 or July 2024, the hottest and second-hottest on record, the Copernicus report said that the planet's average surface temperature last month was still 1.25 C (2.25 F) above the 1850-1900 pre-industrial period, before humans began the widespread burning of fossil fuels like oil, gas and coal. Greenhouse gases released from the burning of fossil fuels are the main driver of climate change. Deforestation, wildfires and many kinds of factories also release heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere. Despite a somewhat cooler July, the 12-month period between August 2024 and July 2025 was 1.53 C above pre-industrial levels, exceeding the threshold set in 2015 to limit human-caused warming to 1.5 C (2.7 F). Globally, 2024 was the hottest year in recorded history. Europe is warming faster than any other continent, with temperatures increasing twice as fast as the global average since the 1980s, according to Copernicus. The planet last year temporarily surpassed the warming target set at the 2015 Paris climate pact. But that target, of limiting warming within 1.5 C (2.7 F) of pre-industrial levels, is defined as a 20-year average, and the world has not yet breached that threshold. Copernicus is the European Union's Earth observation system based on satellite and on-the-ground data collection. Britain rejoined the climate agency in 2023. Julien Nicolas, a senior Copernicus scientist, said it was important to view last month's decrease in the context of two anomalous years of warming. "We are coming out of a streak of global temperature records that lasted almost two years," Nicolas said. "It was a very exceptional streak." He added that as long as the long-term warming trend persists, extreme weather events will continue to happen.
