.NET Rocks!

Space Elevators and Tethers Geek Out

Episode #1247 Thursday, January 21, 2016

Are space elevators really possible, or just science fiction? Time for a Geek Out! Carl and Richard chat about the idea of being able to build a cable from the surface of the Earth into space to make space transport 100 times cheaper than rockets. The conversation starts out focused on the concept of space tethers, of which the space elevator is one particular species. Tethers have actually flown in space and demonstrated some amazing properties, including using the magnetic field of the earth to generate electricity. Tethers can also be used as Skyhooks to lift and fling payloads into orbit. Richard then digs into the details of space elevators themselves, including the materials needed for the cable, construction approaches and the sheer scale of what is needed to make an elevator. Possible? Maybe!

Guests:

Carl Franklin

Carl Franklin is a Microsoft MVP for Sensors and Devices, co-host of .NET Rocks! - the longest running .NET podcast (2002), and Executive VP of App vNext. Carl has been a leader in the .NET community since the very beginning with hands-on training, application development and consulting, and community evangelism.

Carl is also an accomplished musician and audio/video producer. In 1999 he started Pwop Studios, a full-service audio and video post production studio in New London, CT, where Carl records and produces the podcasts as well as music and video projects - both for The Franklin Brothers Band and the public. In 2013, Carl released his first solo album, Been a While, which features a tune with legendary jazz/blues guitarist John Scofield on guitar, as well as an incredible group of musicians local to New London, CT.

In 1994, Carl and friend Gary Wisniewski started Carl and Gary's Visual Basic Home Page, the first non-Microsoft VB website on the Internet. He wrote two books on Internet Programming in Visual Basic for John Wiley and Sons and taught VB6, VB.NET and ASP.NET development onsite at many Fortune 500 companies and also at his training facilities in CT.

Richard Campbell

Richard Campbell has been involved with microcomputers and software since 1977. His career has spanned the industry both on the hardware and software sides, from manufacturing to sales, service, game development, line-of-business software and large scale systems. He's been deeply involved in creating new businesses around software, hardware, services and products in a huge range of roles, including technical, management and financing. During the halcyon days of the DotCom Boom he was a consultant to venture capital firms providing technical due diligence and architectural direction.

Today Richard consults with a number of clients on software architecture and future directions of technology. He is a Microsoft Regional Director and MVP. He's a partner in PWOP Productions, creating a variety of multimedia programs including ".NET Rocks!, the Internet Audio Talk Show for .NET Developers" (www.dotnetrocks.com) a podcast produced twice a week for more than 250,000 listeners in 120 countries and The Tablet Show (www.thetabletshow.com), a weekly podcast focused on tablet and mobile development. In addition he's the host of RunAs Radio (www.runasradio.com), a podcast for the IT Professional using Microsoft technologies. You'll find Richard at numerous conferences all over the world.

Links:

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