Elevator to the Top: Space Elevators Climbing Towards Reality

November 6, 2009 | Source: Wired Geek Dad

(NASA MSFC, Artist Pat Rawling)

The group LaserMotive successfully ran a climber up 1 kilometer of test cable at an average rate of just over 2 meters per second, qualifying for the 2nd place prize of $900,000 in The Space Elevator Games competition.

The craft is powered by a stationary laser beaming the power to operate to the climber.