Endymion

Academy City's space elevator, Endymion, as seen from a distance.

Endymion (エンデュミオン, Endyumion^?) is a space elevator located in School District 23 that neared its completion in Academy City and was set to open for public prior to the events of September 19.

The space elevator is first seen in the Toaru Majutsu no Index: Miracle of Endymion film, and is its primary setting.

Etymology

Endymion is a mortal in Greek mythology. A handsome man, Selene, the Titan goddess of the Moon, fell in love with him, and asked Endymion's father, Zeus, that she wished for him to stay with her forever. Zeus granted her wish, putting him into eternal sleep. Every night, Selene visited him where he slept.

Endymion's relationship with the Titan of the moon, might be the reason for the naming, as if Endymion (the space elevator) reached up to heavens to become closer to the moon.

Appearance

Endymion's design shows a spiraling tower, that alternates between a white material and some form of glass. It is thickest at the base, and is large reasons unknown. The tower quickly tapers as it goes up, but its width remains consistent afterwards. The elevator goes up fairly high into space supported by satellite-like gravity supports armed with anti-aircraft missiles.

The interior of the elevator seems to have a metal skeletal spine like a tree that supports it upwards. Somewhere inside is where the concert hall is for Alisa's show. It is a triangular room where spectators will observe from seated platforms the central glass floor star-like performance stage. the area in general is dark to allow the laser lights and other visual lights to shine. There is also an elevator-like shaft on the ground level that can instantly propel one person up to the top. At the base of the elevator has three power generators guarded by robotic and automated sentries.

Background

Following the emergency landing of Spaceplane Orion, which was referred to as Miracle 88, Academy City began construction of the space elevator, seemingly to dedicate it to the incident. Its construction is being undertaken by the Orbit Portal Company, under the supervised of its president, Ladylee Tangleroad. Of the three years of its construction, the city hid its purpose from the public, due to the delicate politics that is involved with it construction. It's space port was being constructed around the time of the Venus Probe Contest, which Academy City used to send out materials into space for the elevator's construction.

Upon its completion, it is the first Space Elevator in the world.

Principles

Politics

The politics of the Endymion is delicate, both in the science and magic sides. This is the reason for Academy City's participation of the Venus Probe Contest, as so they can construct the space parts of the elevator in secrecy. As the elevator grew, the higher-ups simply made the excuse that the large tower is simply large-scale air traffic control tower. Since the nations of the world spend massive amounts of money on rocket technology and send them out in limited amounts, a space elevator that can transport any number of items into space at a press of a button would overturn the accepted methods of the world.

Moreover, the elevator can also be used for military purposes. Explosives and bombs can be easily transported into space, and can be set upon any location n the earth. An elevator that could easily transport massive amounts of explosives into orbit would allow a high density barrage or minefield to be set up in order to intercept an enemy nation’s missiles. The very existence of Endymion could potentially change the balance of power if it is used for military purposes.

As for the magic side and science side, the space elevator can potentially affect the balance between the two sides. There is a bit of fighting between the sides already, regarding who has the rights to space, like a modern day gold rush. The magic side is dependent on the arranegment and power of the stars. Stiyl Magnus states that space debris and satellites are like pollutants in the night sky, a space elevator would be like a smokestack spewing out a new form of pollution into space. According to him, if they knew of its existence, they would have tried to crush it diplomatically. Moreover, according to Sozty Exica, a structure as large as Endymion will greatly change the flow of power in the ley lines.

Construction

By September 12, the construction of the space elevator had reached its seventh stage. Due to the use of the Venus Probe Contest, Academy City was able to set up the wire made up of carbon nanotubes from space to connect the space port to the earth port. Due to the Academy City's technique of giving each individual block of the tower the ability to function as an unmanned mobile robot, in which millions or billions of those tower blocks would move along the elevator wire from both space and earth to quickly create the exterior of the tower, instead of construction taking several decades, the City managed to finish the construction in only a couple of years and in near-total secrecy. That method allowed a durable building to be constructed with overwhelming speed even in an Antarctic environment where room temperature water would freeze almost instantly. And while the tower was given durability, the method also provided joints in the connections between each block so that it could bend if needed..

According to Uiharu Kazari there were difficulties in constructing the elevator in Japan instead of the prescribed constructing of it in the equator.

Chronology

Toaru Majutsu no Index: Road to Endymion

Main article:Toaru Majutsu no Index: Road to Endymion

At this point in time, Endymion is already clear in the cityscape, though Academy City made an excuse that the tower is simply a large-scale traffic control tower. The magic cabal, Gate of the Gods Come from the Heavens', however, have somehow gained information regarding the existence of the space elevator (possibly from Pantagruel), and intended to destroy it. They kept their goals of destroying the elevator from the lower echelons in their cabal, and made up a reason that they were punishing Academy City for using unnatural methods to modify their body in contrast to their own methods in order for them to attack the city using Agni's Festival Fire, which is just a distraction in order for them to enter School District 23 where the elevator is located.

After the cabal's destruction in the hands of Ureapaddy Exica, she uses the elevator as a conductor for her magic power to take control of the Debris Storm that she intends to use in order for her Brahma Astra to work.

Toaru Majutsu to Kagaku no Ensemble

Main article:Toaru Majutsu to Kagaku no Ensemble

At the game's epilogue, Academy City announces the space elevator to the world, naming it as Endymion.

Toaru Majutsu no Index: Miracle of Endymion

Main article:Toaru Majutsu no Index: Miracle of Endymion

Endymion is the center of Ladylee's plot and the movie's. Here Index compares it to the Tower of Babel, a tower that was supposed to reach God's domain, but was destroyed. Stiyl Magnus is also aware of this fact when he tells Touma about it, and that Alisa could bring about the same catastrophe.

Gallery

Endymion, as seen in Toaru Kagaku no Railgun S Episode 01.