863-Space Elevator

863-Space Elevator

Author: Albert D. Grauer August 22, 2025 Duration: 2:01
In a recent study Dr. Lynnane George and her co-authors investigate Space Elevator technology to remove materials from Ceres and deliver them to orbital depots around the solar system.  The tiny gravity of Ceres, nano-fiber technology, and different water propulsion systems are utilized by Dr. George and her team to construct theoretically possible systems which would extract raw materials from Ceres and deliver them to low Earth orbit and other locations within the solar system.  These researchers estimate such a transport system could reduce fuel costs by up to 60% compared to transport from the Earth’s surface. 

Each episode of Travelers In The Night feels like a quiet, personal conversation under a dark sky. Hosted by astronomer Dr. Albert D. Grauer, this podcast brings the distant cosmos into sharp, intimate focus. Dr. Grauer isn't just an observer; he's an active participant in the hunt, working with the Catalina Sky Survey team that has consistently discovered near-Earth asteroids for years. In these brief and engaging segments, you'll hear firsthand accounts of what it's like to track these ancient celestial travelers-the asteroids and comets that silently pass by our world. The discussions move beyond simple facts to explore the real-world implications of these discoveries, from planetary defense to the sheer wonder of our dynamic solar system. Accompanied by the contemplative music of John Lyell's "Eternity," each installment offers a moment of calm reflection on humanity's place in the universe. It’s a perfect blend of grounded science and cosmic curiosity, making complex astronomical concepts accessible and deeply fascinating. For anyone who has ever looked up and wondered what's out there moving in the dark, this podcast provides a direct line to the front lines of discovery.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 1000

Travelers In The Night
Podcast Episodes
228E-240-Why [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
What motivates asteroid hunters?Large dangerous asteroids are still out there to find.
738-Tiny Visitor(526) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
A tiny space rock passes through the cloud of communications satellites surrounding the Earth.
227E-239-Martian Lakes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
We may be able to learn about the possibilities of life on Mars by studying land forms on the Tibetan Plateau here on Earth.
737-Collision(525) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
I was asteroid hunting with our 60 inch telescope on Mt. Lemmon, Arizona when my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Steve Larson sent me an email requesting that I obtain some images of the asteroid 6478 Gault. Several days ea…
226E-238-Now Three [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
The Catalina Sky Survey now operates three telescopes, 24 nights per month, in the Catalina mountains north of Tucson, Arizona.The Catalina Sky Survey began with the University of Arizona's 30 inch Schmidt Telescope on M…
736-Home Wrecker(524) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
The extremely remote chance that a dangerous mountain sized space rock has our number on it is what keeps my team going to our four telescopes in the Catalina Mountains north of Tucson, Arizona.
225E-237-Lost [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
The asteroid named for Mildred Shapley Matthews was lost in the solar system for 75 years.In 1916 the 60 inch Hale telescope on Mt. Wilson, California was the largest telescope in the world. Seth Nicholson and Harlow Sha…
735-One Thousand(523) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
For the first time in history, an asteroid hunting team, the Catalina Sky Survey, has discovered more than 1,000 Earth approaching asteroids in a single year. They are an interesting part of our environment.
224E-236-Enceladus's Ocean [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
Pound for pound Saturn's moon Enceladus is the brightest object in our solar system. It is so shiny that it reflects most of the sunlight that strikes it. Since Enceladus absorbs little sunlight it's surface is 330 degre…
734-Comets Africano(522) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
During Comet C/2018 V4 Africano's last visit to the inner solar system humans were erecting the outer ring at Stonehenge. At the rate human's are changing the Earth's climate who can guess what will be happening on Earth…