Giant rubber band would cut space costs

Scientists at Glasgow University have won funding from the European Space Agency to examine the feasibility of building a slingshot that could fire supplies direct to the moon and retrieve cargo coming down the other way.

A rotating network of cables would be set up in low earth orbit into which material would be fired via conventional rocket launches.

These cables, powered by electrical panels and the earth's spin, would provide the extra impetus required to send the packages to the moon, where they would be collected by another slingshot and sent down to the surface.

The study, developed by Dr Gianmarco Radice and Prof Matthew Cartmell, will look at the mathematical possibilities of the idea, rather than building a physical model.

"Tether systems are an extremely attractive possibility for space transportation as they do not require any fuel," Dr Radice told the BBC.

"There are a number of practical issues that have to be addressed, as the cables are kilometres long and have to be extremely resistant, but this could provide an efficient method of transporting goods between the earth and the moon."

The dynamic duo won the €10,000 funding over 50 other projects for space exploration.