KANSAS CITY, MO -
A team from Kansas City is part of an epic battle, a race to build an elevator to space. And NASA is handing out $2 million for the team that can do it.
FOX 4's Tess Koppelman caught up with The Kansas City Space Pirates packing up their trailer, ready to hit the road. They are one of only three teams left in the space elevator competition at Edwards Air Force Base in the California Desert, but a Parkville garage is home to a machine that could forever change space exploration.
"We're in it for the prize money, and the fact that it could change the state of mankind in the future, that's just all the better," said Brian Turner, captain of Kansas City Space Pirates.
Turner and his KC Space Pirates are hoping to pillage NASA's $2 million booty with "Maryann."
"These solar panels convert to electricity, which comes to the electronics on the back side, here, and powers this little motor," said Turner.
The motor propels the robot up a cable attached to a helicopter more than half a mile in the air. The faster, the better.
"So in a way it's a vertical drag race," Turner said.
And it's powered with a laser, shot through a custom-built telescope.
"So we'll be beaming more energy to our robot in this competition than has ever been beamed to a remote moving device ever," said Turner. "We'll be setting a variety of world records as we proceed in this competition."
Especially impressive since his team is up against a university group and a team of professionals, while the KC Space Pirates all have day jobs.
"This is my hobby," said Turner.
A hobby that takes a lot of money.
"We burn through $100 components like they were nothing," he said.
And takes a lot of time away from their families.
"It's been pointed out we're married to the most patient wives in the world," Turner added.
But Pirate wives can be very forgiving, especially if they come home with that $2 million booty.
The space elevator games start next week on Wednesday. You can watch it on NASA TV.
Story Links:
Find out more about Space Elevator Games
Find out more about The KC Space Pirates
Watch the space elevator competition starting Wednesday on NASA TV
FOX 4's Tess Koppelman caught up with The Kansas City Space Pirates packing up their trailer, ready to hit the road. They are one of only three teams left in the space elevator competition at Edwards Air Force Base in the California Desert, but a Parkville garage is home to a machine that could forever change space exploration.
"We're in it for the prize money, and the fact that it could change the state of mankind in the future, that's just all the better," said Brian Turner, captain of Kansas City Space Pirates.
Turner and his KC Space Pirates are hoping to pillage NASA's $2 million booty with "Maryann."
"These solar panels convert to electricity, which comes to the electronics on the back side, here, and powers this little motor," said Turner.
The motor propels the robot up a cable attached to a helicopter more than half a mile in the air. The faster, the better.
"So in a way it's a vertical drag race," Turner said.
And it's powered with a laser, shot through a custom-built telescope.
"So we'll be beaming more energy to our robot in this competition than has ever been beamed to a remote moving device ever," said Turner. "We'll be setting a variety of world records as we proceed in this competition."
Especially impressive since his team is up against a university group and a team of professionals, while the KC Space Pirates all have day jobs.
"This is my hobby," said Turner.
A hobby that takes a lot of money.
"We burn through $100 components like they were nothing," he said.
And takes a lot of time away from their families.
"It's been pointed out we're married to the most patient wives in the world," Turner added.
But Pirate wives can be very forgiving, especially if they come home with that $2 million booty.
The space elevator games start next week on Wednesday. You can watch it on NASA TV.
Story Links:
Find out more about Space Elevator Games
Find out more about The KC Space Pirates
Watch the space elevator competition starting Wednesday on NASA TV
