In the wake of last month’s press release regarding the establishment of LiftPort Nanotech’s (LPNT) first nanotube production facility, there have been several misconceptions circulated in the media about LiftPort’s progress toward building a Space Elevator. While it is impossible to correct every nationally syndicated news article, this letter is intended to clarify the situation for our most enthusiastic and loyal supporters.

Firstly, LiftPort has not begun fabrication on actual Space Elevator components. The funds secured for the construction of a carbon nanotube production facility will be used to build machines that will produce multi-walled carbon nanotubes in bulk. They will not be building Space Elevator-ready ribbon or material that will immediately go into a ribbon. This facility is intended to provide LiftPort with a source of funding by furnishing high quality multi-walled carbon nanotubes for terrestrial applications. It will also give LiftPort a knowledge base that will be quite useful once the firm does begin experimenting with Space Elevator scale components. It is unlikely that LPNT alone will be the company to produce a material with the strength required for a Space Elevator. There are many commercial and non-commercial entities working in this area and it is more than likely that LPNT will partner with one to produce an appropriate SE ribbon. Therefore, it is only the first step in solving the materials strength problem posed by constructing a Space Elevator, not the final answer.

Secondly, there has been some misunderstanding as to the design of the Space Elevator ribbon. Certain representatives of the press have incorrectly reported that the width of the final Space Elevator ribbon will be eight inches. The baseline design (as originally conceived by Dr. Brad Edwards) has always called for a final width of three feet. However, the initial “string” to be deployed will be eight inches wide, which will then be “built up” to three feet wide over several years. The ribbon’s depth will still be measured in microns and its length will be roughly 62,000 miles. Based on internal LiftPort research, this baseline may be modified in the near future. For now, LiftPort will maintain a program that is consistent with other teams working in this field. LiftPort intends to peer review our modifications in the coming year.

We would like to remind our readers that with a project as complex as the Space Elevator, sometimes busy media professionals misinterpret some details or misquote certain data. The most accurate and up-to-date source of information regarding LiftPort and the Space Elevator is LiftPort’s website at www.liftport.com.

Finally, LiftPort failed to properly recognize the Mars Society in our last newsletter. Through the efforts of the Mars Desert Research Station (MRDS) crew #37 from Georgia Tech, LiftPort has gained valuable data for our lifters. The MDRS is maintained and supported by the Mars Society. LiftPort, the Mars Society and Georgia Tech have been working closely to test LiftPort’s robotic Lifter prototypes at their Mars Desert Research Station in Utah. Our friends at these organizations have worked tirelessly on behalf of the Space Elevator and are very dedicated to the cause of space exploration. Our readers are encouraged to learn about the Mars Society at www.marssociety.org. The full field reports of crew 37, the team that took our 'bot to the desert, can be found at www.gtmars.com/reports.asp.

Thank you for your continued support!

Warm regards,
The Staff of LiftPort Group

LiftPort Group
May 2, 2005