The event focused on hands-on experimental testing rather than competitive rankings. Teams used the opportunity to validate the performance, reliability, and safety of their self-developed climbers while exchanging ideas with researchers, volunteers, and WSPEC staff preparing for next year’s World Space Elevator Competition.
SPEC 2025 was held over three days in Japan and brought together eleven teams working on climber technology for future space elevator systems. The event is designed as a practical testing environment where teams can evaluate performance, reliability and safety on a full scale vertical test line. Rather than focusing on rankings, SPEC encourages iteration, hands on experimentation and technical exchange among participants.
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At SPEC 2025, each participating team brought a uniquely designed climber, resulting in a wide range of experimental approaches. Teams tested lifting, lowering, and precise stopping, explored posture control during ascent and descent, and evaluated the stability of compact and large-scale systems. Some climbers focused on achieving reliable and repeatable movement, while others sought to increase loads or enhance mechanical efficiency.
These experiments demonstrated how teams approach the shared challenge of developing safe and functional climber systems for travel from the surface into space. The diversity of ideas was evident in every trial, ranging from simple mechanical concepts to advanced multi-sensor control strategies. This variety is central to SPEC, since it allows teams to directly compare methods, refine their designs, and gain insights that will support future participation in WSPEC.
Throughout the three-day event, teams demonstrated strong commitment and persistence in their experimental work. When technical issues arose, participants adjusted their climbers directly at the venue by disassembling components, modifying control parameters, and rebuilding systems for repeated trials. This iterative approach enabled teams to test improvements immediately and receive practical feedback on the same day.
Collaboration was a defining element of the atmosphere at SPEC 2025. Teams openly exchanged ideas with one another and with event staff, discussing design choices, safety measures, and operational procedures. Team WARR from Germany contributed their own design perspectives, which led to active technical discussions with Japanese teams. These interactions reinforced the collaborative spirit of SPEC and highlighted the value of shared problem-solving in advancing climber research.
At WSPEC, we would like to express our sincere appreciation to everyone who contributed to the successful execution of SPEC 2025. We thank the Space Elevator Association for their close cooperation, as well as the partners who provided the venue, facilities, and technical infrastructure. Our gratitude also goes to the staff and volunteers whose dedication ensured safe and well-organized operations throughout the event.
We are especially thankful to all participating teams from Japan and Germany for their commitment, creativity, and openness in sharing their work. Through their hands-on experimentation and collaborative mindset, they helped create an environment that fosters learning and innovation, strongly supporting the mission of WSPEC and the future of international climber competitions.
