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The official newsletter of the International Space Elevator Consortium (ISEC)

Our mission statement: 
"... ISEC promotes the development, construction and operation of a space elevator as a revolutionary and efficient way to space for all humanity ..."

Space Elevator Games Update
  November 5, 2009
Team LaserMotive continues to lead at the
2009 Space Elevator Games!

On the second day of the 2009 Space Elevator Games - Climber / Power-Beaming Challenge, the Climber from Team LaserMotive ascended the 900 meter racecourse at an average speed of nearly 4 meters / second, bettering their speed from yesterday.

So far, Team LaserMotive is the only team to exceed an average speed of 2 meters / second and so are the only team currently qualified for a portion of the $900,000 prize purse offered by NASA as part of its Centennial Challenges program.

The climber from the Kansas City Space Pirates team also competed today and, while successfully powering multiple climbs with a laser, they were unable to make it to the top.  They will have one more attempt tomorrow to try and qualify for NASA Prize money.

The USST (University of Saskatchewan Space Design Team) Team had two windows today to try and qualify for prize money.  In the first window, they were unable to ascend very high on the cable and they passed on their second opportunity, choosing instead to continue tweaking their system.

If any team's climber can reach an average speed of 5 meters / second, they would then qualify for a portion of the entire $2,000,000 prize purse being offered by NASA.

If multiple teams make either the 2 meters / second or the 5 meters / second threshold, a formula will be used to determine the split of the prize pool between the winning teams.

The Space Elevator Games are being broadcast live on uStream.  To see this video and audio stream and to follow all of the action in real time, visit http://live.spaceelevatorgames.org or go to the official site of the Space Elevator Games, http://www.spaceelevatorgames.org, and click the LIVE COVERAGE button at the top of the screen.

You can also follow the action on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/segames.

Press coverage continues to be extensive including stories from the AP, ABC, Fox News and many other local affiliates.

The 2009 Space Elevator Games resume on November 6th, 2009, at 7:00am - US Pacific Time for the third and final day.  Come and watch and see history in the making!
ISEC Logo - transparent background EuroSpaceward's 3rd Annual Conference coming up in December

On December 5th and 6th, EuroSpaceward will hold it's third annual conference.  This year it is titled "Space Elevator, CNT Tether Design & Lunar Industrial Challenges".

The preliminary program for this conference is now available. It can be downloaded here or from the EuroSpaceward website.

What is ISEC?

ISEC LogoThe International Space Elevator Consortium (ISEC) is the result of a coming-together of leading figures and organizations who have worked long and hard over many years to promote the concept of a Space Elevator.  With organizational members in the United States, Europe and Japan and individual members from around the world, ISEC's goal is nothing less than to get a Space Elevator built.
From our bylaws:

"... ISEC promotes the development, construction and operation of a space elevator as a revolutionary and efficient way to space for all humanity ..."

Our plan of action is based on four pillars: Technology, Law, Business, and Outreach:

Each of the pillars is headed by a pillar lead, who functions much like a university's department head. Their job is to start initiatives (projects), pursue collaborations, guide project leads and prospective project leads in pursuing their individual projects, and generally increase the activity level of their pillar.

If you agree with us that building a Space Elevator should be a priority for all of us and you would like to help make this happen, please Join Us!  Benefits include e-newsletters (such as this one), an e-magazine and e-journal and other items listed on our sign-up page.

Come and join us and help make the future happen!
Visit ISEC on the Web

Visit our website at www.isec.info.  There you can join learn more about what is happening in the Space Elevator community and what is being done to advance the concept of a Space Elevator.  Please consider joining ISEC - we foster research and sponsor Space Elevator-related causes, but to do so takes money.  Your contributions are crucial to our success.  Thank you!

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