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Bradley C. Edwards | |
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Nationality | American |
Alma mater | University of Wisconsin–Madison |
Bradley C. Edwards is an American physicist who has been involved in the development of the space elevator concept. [1]
Dr Edwards received his PhD degree in Physics from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1990. [2] His thesis work was in astrophysics on the soft x-ray background. During his graduate work, he worked on x-ray micro calorimeters and several sounding rocket and Shuttle payloads.
After receiving his PhD, Dr Edwards was hired as a staff scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory where he was co-investigator on the ALEXIS satellite, developed superconducting tunnel junction detectors, a lunar orbiter, a Mars mission,[ which?] a Europa orbiter and the world's first optical cryocooler.[ citation needed] In 1998, Dr Edwards began working on the space elevator concept.[ citation needed]
Edwards received funding from the NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts to examine the idea and published two papers in 2000 and 2003. [3] [4] He proposed methods for deploying a space elevator and overcoming perceived obstacles such as orbital debris, anchoring, climber design, and power delivery and examined construction costs and scheduling, laying the groundwork for current[ when?] discussions. [5] [6]
Edwards also published two books on the subject, The Space Elevator: A Revolutionary Earth-to-Space Transportation in 2003 and Leaving the Planet by Space Elevator in 2006 which gained coverage on major news media. [7] [8] [9] [10]
In interviews, Edwards has estimated that price per pound of launching into low Earth orbit could be reduced to 100th the cost of Shuttle missions. [11]
Edwards spent eleven years working at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, researching advanced space technologies.[ citation needed] He attempted a number of ventures associated with the space elevator concept and spent six years as a senior engineer at Sea-Bird Electronics, an oceanographic company.[ citation needed] He has recently[ when?] started a new company to develop carbon nanotube technology. [12]
![]() |
Bradley C. Edwards | |
---|---|
Nationality | American |
Alma mater | University of Wisconsin–Madison |
Bradley C. Edwards is an American physicist who has been involved in the development of the space elevator concept. [1]
Dr Edwards received his PhD degree in Physics from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1990. [2] His thesis work was in astrophysics on the soft x-ray background. During his graduate work, he worked on x-ray micro calorimeters and several sounding rocket and Shuttle payloads.
After receiving his PhD, Dr Edwards was hired as a staff scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory where he was co-investigator on the ALEXIS satellite, developed superconducting tunnel junction detectors, a lunar orbiter, a Mars mission,[ which?] a Europa orbiter and the world's first optical cryocooler.[ citation needed] In 1998, Dr Edwards began working on the space elevator concept.[ citation needed]
Edwards received funding from the NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts to examine the idea and published two papers in 2000 and 2003. [3] [4] He proposed methods for deploying a space elevator and overcoming perceived obstacles such as orbital debris, anchoring, climber design, and power delivery and examined construction costs and scheduling, laying the groundwork for current[ when?] discussions. [5] [6]
Edwards also published two books on the subject, The Space Elevator: A Revolutionary Earth-to-Space Transportation in 2003 and Leaving the Planet by Space Elevator in 2006 which gained coverage on major news media. [7] [8] [9] [10]
In interviews, Edwards has estimated that price per pound of launching into low Earth orbit could be reduced to 100th the cost of Shuttle missions. [11]
Edwards spent eleven years working at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, researching advanced space technologies.[ citation needed] He attempted a number of ventures associated with the space elevator concept and spent six years as a senior engineer at Sea-Bird Electronics, an oceanographic company.[ citation needed] He has recently[ when?] started a new company to develop carbon nanotube technology. [12]