22 Sep 2018 - The Obayashi Corporation
It all started in late September, 2018 (32 years ago).
Obayshi Corporation announced the launch of its miniature space elevator - a small scale precursor of the 2050 Industrial Size Obayashi Space Hub and Research Facility.
See: "Japan has launched a miniature space elevator - STARS - Me experiment
At 1:52 p.m. EDT on September 22, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency launched a rocket carrying the STARS-Me experiment from the island of Tanegashima.
...A pair of tiny satellites that will help test technology for a space elevator is on its way to the International Space Station.
About STARS - Me (Space Tethered Autonomous Robotic) Satellite Project
Years before, I'd heard about the concept of a "Space Elevator", but thought it was still in the theoretical phase of development.
That was until I ran across several articles about the STARS Project while researching carbon nano tubes for an upcoming article.
What is the STARS - Me?
STARS - Me is a very small satellite that conducts space experiments using CubeSat as the first step in orbit elevator technology aimed at space elevators.
Tether length to counter weight is about 96,000Km (59651.634 miles).
[The] elevator (climber) is a small scale experiment about 3 x 3 x 6 cm.
In STARS series satellites, we have been doing separation and tether extension by spring force up to now, but STARS - Me uses a technique that gradually feeds a relatively rigid tether by a motor.
Obayashi's Space Elevator Concept
The more research I did on the Obayashi's space Elevator, the more I got excited.
Obayashi pursues the potential for the future of the space elevator from a construction standpoint, and describes a newly-designed, whole-space elevator system, including its construction process, which we designed on the basis of work by construction engineers who completed the world's tallest free-standing tower, TOKYO SKYTREE®, in 2012.
STARS - Me: An Image Animation
31 Jan 2050 - My 87th Birthday
Dear Diary,
My daughter dug up this 32 year old Holographic Video (produced in 2018) and played it at my 87th birthday party.
"You and me looking at the stars"
We had fun dancing to the HoloVid (of course, I was wearing my carbon nanotube exo-skeleton).
Then she gave me an Obayshi Space Elevator ticket to the Mars Gate!
I can't wait until we both go to the stars!!
Parting Shot - SPECIAL THANK YOU to My Dear Friend "Oba"
By JaiChai
Mighty Kind of You for stopping by.
Truly hope to see you again!
About the Author
Believing that school was too boring, he dropped out of High School early; only to earn an AA, BS and MBA in less than 4 years much later in life – while working full-time as a Navy/Marine Corps Medic.
In spite of a fear of heights and deep water, he performed high altitude, free-fall parachute jumps and hazardous diving ops in deep, open ocean water.
After 24 years of active duty, he retired in Asia.
Since then, he's been a full-time, single papa and actively pursuing his varied passions (Writing, Disruptive Technology, Computer Science and Cryptocurrency - plus more hobbies too boring or bizarre for most folk).
He lives on an island paradise with his teenage daughter, longtime girlfriend and three dogs.