Showcasing representative prototypes of Space Elevator climbers, the Power Beaming challenge will continue to influence public perception of the Space Elevator project by demonstrating progressively more accurate (and more impressive!) prototypes of the Space Elevator system. By participating, you get the opportunity to partner in writing this unique chapter of history. The total NASA provided 2008 prize purse is $2,000,000, highlighting its commitment to the development of power beaming technologies.

In this challenge, Spaceward provides the race track, in the form of a vertically-suspended tether, and the competing teams provide Space Elevator prototypes, featuring climbers that have to scale the tether using only power that is transferred to them from the ground using beamed power.

The climbers net weight is limited to 50 kg [110 lbs], and they must ascend the ribbon at a minimum speed of 2 m/s. [6.6 feet per second] carrying as much payload as possible. A high performance prize will be awarded to teams that can move at 5 m/s. [16.5 fps]

Climbers will be rated according to their speed multiplied by the amount of payload they carried, and divided by their net weight. For example, a 15 kg climber, carrying 10 kg of payload at 2.5 m/s will have a score of 10 · 2.5 · / 15 = 1.67

Power is unlimited. It is up to the competitors to build the most power dense machine that they can devise. For more comprehensive specifications, please download the formal specs below.

Safety

A quick word of caution before we continue: Automated machinery is dangerous. Automated machinery in a competitive environment is doubly so. Starting in 2007 and moving into 2008 and beyond, laser operations take center stage at our games, and with them, the risk of eye injury. In designing this competition, we have placed a great deal of emphasis on safety, but we cannot, however, control the safety in your labs and machine shops. Please be careful. Safety rules are important, and the competition will be there again next year, so always take the time to stop and think first.

Venue

We're currently surveying venues and sites that can support the 1-km challenge. For a sense of scale, see the picture on the right of Meteor Crater in Arizona with the challenge superimposed. The crater is 1.2 km across, the visitor center is visible at the lower right.

Sites we are considering include:

• Davis County Fairgrounds, UT
• Meteor Crater, AZ
• Bonneville Salt Flats, UT
• Albuquerque Balloon Festival, NM
• White Sands, NM
• Rockets Sites:
  Brothers Rocket Site, OR
  Black Rock, NV
  Jean Dry lake, NV
  Mansfield, WA
  Tripoli Idaho Swan Falls, ID
  
• NASCAR raceways
  

We're looking for additional input on these and other possible sites. Sites must be able to accommodate a 1 km tall tethered balloon pyramid, offer convenient logistics support, and be relatively easily accessible. Natural landmarks get extra points. Our target date is late October '08 .

If you have an idea regarding these or other venues, please us.

Industry Participation

We're thrilled to announce that Laser tool manufacturer TRUMPF has stepped forward with a lucrative offer to support teams with its state-of-the-art laser equipment.

Being a world leader in disc laser technology, TRUMPF took a natural interest in the power beaming games, and is providing both hardware and expertise to enable the 1-km climb. TRUMPF is contributing a top-of-the-line TruDisk 8002 high power laser for use at the 2008 and 2009 games, as well as on-site operation and engineering support for participating teams.

Dilas supplied the two Laser Diode power sources in the 2007 games, and is offering this year an integrated light source designed specifically for power beaming application to the 1 km range.