Week 9: Space & Art

This week’s discussion of space exploration and art was a truly perfect way to sum up this quarter’s discussion of the intersection of art and science and their continued influence on one another. From this week’s topics, I was particularly struck by the influence of science fiction writing on real scientific advances in human space travel and exploration. It is incredible to think that one person’s creative, innovative ideas portrayed in a popular novel greatly impact the scientific community to such an enormous extent. The Space Elevator may be the perfect example of the intersection of art and science, as an artist first came up with this idea, and scientists are working to make it a reality.

Artist's rendering of Space Elevator
http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2000/ast07sep_1/

Arthur Clarke, an engineer, humanist and futuristic science fiction writer, wrote the novel “The Fountains of Paradise” in 1976. Set in the twenty second century, Clarke most notably described a Space Elevator that would ultimately connect earth to space. Ultimately, the elevator would consist of an orbital tower that rises from the ground of earth and connects to a geostationary orbit 36,000 kilometers into space. The elevator could serve as a passage not only for supplies into space, but as a means of travel for human beings as well.

http://iv1.lisimg.com/image/50745/600full-
the-fountains-of-paradise-cover.jpg

http://swh.schoolworkhelper.netdna-cdn.com/
wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Arthur-Clarke.jpg?c71720

While the Space Elevator was first introduced as science fiction, it may not stay that way for long, as scientists are truly considering using this idea of an elevator into space as a type of mass transit system. After a conference with scientists and engineers, David Smitherman of NASA compiled plans for the elevator, confident that it may become reality.

This depiction of the elevator clearly describes the layout
http://cdn.gajitz.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/illustration-and-climber.jpg

The new technology involved in the Space Elevator would make use of the nanotechnology, nanotubes, that was discussed in lecture last week. A ribbon made out of carbon nanotubes would stretch from earth to space, and a counterweight would spin around the earth to keep the ribbon straight and allow robotic lifters to move up and down the ribbon, to and from earth.

Nanotube
http://common.ziffdavisinternet.com/encyclopedia_images/_CNTUBE.GIF

While we may be years away from actually seeing the Space Elevator in progress, it is still incredible to realize that the idea for this new and innovative technology came from a science fiction novel. With the concept as an imaginative creation of an artist, and the real application as the combination of scientists and engineers using robotics and nanotechnology, the Space Elevator clearly demonstrates just how extraordinary art and science can be when combined. 

Works Cited

“About Sir Arthur.” The Arthur C Clarke Foundation. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 May 2015. <http://www.clarkefoundation.org/sample-page/>.

“Audacious & Outrageous: Space Elevators.” NASA Science. NASA, n.d. Web. 30 May 2015. <http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2000/ast07sep_1/>.

Bonsor, Kevin. “How Spae Elevators Will Work.” HowStuffWorks. HowStuffWorks.com, n.d. Web. 30 May 2015. <http://science.howstuffworks.com/space-elevator.htm>.

“Space Elevator (Orbital Tower) by Arthur C. Clarke from the Fountains of Paradise.” Technovelgy. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 May 2015. <http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/content.asp?Bnum=720>.

“The Fountains of Paradise.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 30 May 2015. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fountains_of_Paradise>.

Vesna, Victoria. “Space Exploration and Art.” Cole UC online. Youtube, 29 May 2015. Lecture.