Stargazing Guy

https://www.flickr.com/photos/flyingsinger/471698669

Space elevators aren’t just for Earth.

The possibility of a space elevator on Mars has been around for a few years, with various academics and science fiction authors covering the concept.

There are different problems with the Martian space elevator – due to its satellites, Phobos and Deimos, as their orbits would intersect with the tether. On the plus side, due to Mars’ lower gravity, there is no need to wait for the development of future materials – current materials are usable.

A NASA technical report in 2013 discusses the possibility of a space elevator but making use of Phobos.

A good overview is provided by Marspedia – as well as plenty of references to space elevators in science fiction.

Spoiler alert!

Aside from Arthur C Clarke’s the Fountains of Paradise, there is the Mars Trilogy from Kim Stanley Robinson, Star Trek: Voyager episode Rise and the Science of Discworld by Terry Pratchett, Jack Cohen and Ian Stewart.

… and just to keep it real, the International Space Elevator Consortium (ISEC) publish its December 2022/January 2023 edition newsletter, with various exciting updates and progress reports.