Tian Dao Space Elevator
The Tian Dao space elevator space elevator is an aerospace construction project primarily undertaken by Confederated Boeing. The space elevator is constructed from a captured asteroid in geosynchronous orbit above Indonesia, at the equator southwest of Singapore. Two vertical tethers are under construction, extending out from the asteroid. The lower tether will dock with an anchoring station on the ground, while the other acts as a counterbalance and launch catapult for interplanetary payloads. Once the tether is in place, the asteroid will be raised to a slightly higher orbit, thereby increasing tension along the tethered cable to keep the structure taunt.
Aggressive negotiations have taken place to determine the anchorage point, resulting in the selection of Singapore's Tuas Space Link, where Boeing and Temasek are constructing the Boeing Atlas Complex. The space elevator barely met its planned opening date at the end of 2048 with a soft launch of the Atlas Complex and the tether anchoring ceremony. Construction payloads began in February the following year, and the first commercial payload launch coincided with Singapore's National Day, August 9, 2049.
Architecture
The captured asteroid, Tian Dao, has been mined out for raw materials for the construction of the two spires. The interior of the asteroid body is being renovated to form the zero-G orbital docking station. The lower spires will house six banks of elevators, which take approximately 90 hours to reach the station. Because of the Earth's rotation, Tian Dao station sits in geosynchronous orbit above the equator, west of the anchoring point. Additionally, the spire is angled slightly to accommodate the distance of the anchor from the equator (approximately 144 km north).
Type
Orbital, Space elevator
Included Locations
Owning Organization
Related Report (Primary Locations)
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