Lifter, Lifter, In The Sky

Image used without permission (please don’t sue me) and copyrighted to LiftPort, Inc., all rights reserved.

Update 2: Inspired by Twinkle, twinkle, little star.

Hmm…this looks interesting.

(Space Daily) Further observations of Zeta Leporis have enabled researchers to precisely gauge the size of this dust dusk. Additionally, according to Cowen, research finds that the location of the dust is at a distance of 3 astronomical units (AU) from Zeta Leporis, quite similar to the location of the solar system’s asteroid belt, stretching from 2.1 to 3.3 AU from the sun.

Noting that asteroids are leftovers from the planet-making process in the solar system, Cowen reports that, while still a young star, Zeta Leporis is old enough to have formed planets. These new studies and findings “support the thought that Earthlike planets may exist” according to Michael Jura of the University of California, Los Angeles who observed the dust in the disk surrounding Zeta Leporis to find its radius.

Unfortunately the star is 70 plus light years away, give or take a day. It also orbits a blue star, which may or may not be suitable for Earth plants (that is if we every took the chance of traveling there).

…this makes me feel awfully humble.

I’m glad I live on planet Earth. (Hat Tip: PostHuman Blues)

So I finally decided to “throw in the hat” and sign up to become a Lift Port Ambassador.

I actually considered doing this before, but declined because I felt that I lacked the “know how” to be able to discuss what a space elevator is all about, let alone write about one.

Many moons passed and I finally wrote an article regarding the space elevator, which you can also see over at Blog Critics.

After viewing the initial feedback from the comment section (as well as an email from Frank and Michael) I decided to simply sign up and see whether or not I am accepted into the program.

I have already talked to some people about the idea (with positive and negative responses) and was encouraged by what I heard. Although counter arguments against building a space elevator will probably appear, I have the confidence to face them and perhaps kick off a movement to explore the stars–at least in my area.