In a first-ever, Japan is planning to test its idea of elevator movement in space, according to a report by futurism.com. According to researchers from Japan’s Shizuoka University, a scaled-down version of the system will be launched on September 11.
As per the report, the scaled-down “elevator” which will be used in the test is a box of not more than six centimeters (2.4 inches) long and three centimeters (1.1 inches) high. The “elevator”, which will be fully scaled, will be wide enough to transport actual supplies to space, according to the report.
Japan’s space agency will launch an H-2B rocket carrying two mini-satellites, one of which will contain the elevator stand-in. After it reaches space, the "motors will power the box like a celestial tightrope walker along a cable strung between the two mini-satellites positioned 10 meters (10.9 yards) apart from one another. Cameras on the satellites will monitor the motorised motion of the box", said the report.
If this attempt made by Japan becomes successful, then this will pave a new way to deliver low-cost supplies and people to space, according to the report.
