An architect from Cumbria, Jordan William Hughes, has recently been awarded a €10,000 prize for his innovative design of a space elevator, marking a significant leap in space travel technology. The futuristic concept, designed to transport passengers into space, won the prestigious prize for space architecture and innovation from the Jacques Rougerie Foundation in Paris.
Mr. Hughes, who works as an architect in London, dedicated his spare time to designing the Ascensio space elevator, envisioning a revolutionary mode of space transportation that could potentially replace conventional and environmentally damaging rocket launches.
The design involves a cable-like structure dropping from a space port down to earth, connecting with a ship that can maneuver across the ocean to synchronize with the space port. This innovative approach aims to address the inefficiency, high costs, and environmental impact associated with traditional rocket launches.
In an interview with BBC Cumbria, Mr. Hughes emphasized the transformative potential of space elevators, stating, ‘It would revolutionize the way we get to and from space and make it more viable.’ While acknowledging that the concept of space elevators has been explored in both science fiction and real-world studies, he acknowledges that the realization of this concept may still be years away.
Receiving the award at the Palais de l’Institut de France in Paris, Mr. Hughes expressed his belief in the eventual construction of space elevators, citing their core features such as mobility, light weight, and safety benefits as essential components for efficient space travel and exploration.
Despite the ambitious nature of the project, Mr. Hughes remains confident about the eventual realization of space elevators, asserting, ‘This is the only way space travel and space exploration actually works and becomes efficient.’ While he does not anticipate the immediate construction of his project within the next decade, he firmly believes that space elevators will become a reality in the future.
