The Space Elevator: From Science Fiction to Engineering

Mexborough & Swinton Astronomical Society present:

Meeting date: January 15th 2026, 7:30pm GMT

(Meeting also available on-line via Zoom)

A space elevator is a proposed transportation system that uses a long, strong cable or tether extending from Earth's surface into space, reaching a point beyond geostationary orbit. The elevator's counterweight at the top keeps the tether taut, allowing vehicles or climbers to travel along the cable to and from space without the need for rockets. This concept aims to reduce the cost and energy required to launch objects into space, facilitating easier access for satellites, cargo, and even humans. While still theoretical and facing significant engineering challenges, a space elevator could revolutionize space travel and exploration.

Larry Bartoszek has a dual degree in Mechanical Engineering and Physics from the University of Illinois and is an Illinois Licensed Professional Engineer.

He is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the American Welding Society, ASM International, the Chicago Society for Space Studies, the National Space Society, and is Vice President of the International Space Elevator Consortium. He is also a Space Ambassador for the NSS. Larry Bartoszek owns Bartoszek Engineering, a consulting firm which specializes in mechanical designs for the nuclear and high energy physics research community world-wide. Bartoszek Engineering has worked for many national laboratories, universities and governments on experiments all over the world. He has built machines up to three stories tall and 120 tons, as well as table top devices.

His website is www.bartoszekeng.com . A chronological history of the projects BE

has worked on can be found at:

http://www.bartoszekeng.com/STEM/All_projects.pdf

Larry started working on the Space Elevator as a hobby in 2004 developing conceptual designs for climbers as outlined in “The Space Elevator” by Edwards and Westling. He has given presentations at several Space Elevator Conferences, including Washington, DC, 2004, the Space Elevator Conference in Seattle in 2013, and the ISEC Annual Conference in Chicago in 2023, 2024, and virtually in 2025. Larry has created original designs for the climbers for the Space Elevator which have been published in two annual ISEC study reports. He became a Director on the Board of the International Space Elevator Consortium (ISEC) in April, 2021. In July of 2024 Larry was elected Vice President of ISEC. A webinar he gave for the International Space Elevator Consortium in April of 2022 can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Q8cMGxIccI&t=2s