A Tether in Space

Explanation: One of the greatest unrequited legends of outer space is the tether. Tethers , long strands of material, hold the promise of stabilizing satellites , generating electricity , and allowing easy transportation . Possibly the most extreme vision of the space tether is the space elevator popularized by Arthur C. Clarke , where a tether is constructed that connects the ground to geosynchronous orbit . One problem is strength - it is difficult to make a long useful tether that does not snap. To help realize more of the tremendous potential of space tethers , NASA and the SpaceWard Foundation have issued the Centennial Tether Challenge , promising a monetary reward for the best space tether that exceeds a minimum standard. Pictured above is the deployment of the Tethered Satellite System 1 (TSS-1) by the space shuttle Altantis in 1992. Like other tested tethers, TSS-1 failed to live up to its promise, although many valuable lessons were learned.