Space Elevator: High Hopes, Lofty Goals (Space.com)

[On the Road]

I had read about this concept, but thought it was science fiction. Apparently, it's doable and may actually happen:

SANTA FE, New Mexico -- No matter how you view it, a space elevator is a stretch … not only of vision, but also of far-out materials and cutting-edge technology.

Putting in place a space elevator is complicated: Extend a super-strong ribbon from an Earth-situated platform at the equator out beyond geosynchronous orbit. Once in position, electric lifts clamped to the ribbon would truck spacecraft, science gear, as well as passenger-carrying modules into space.

---snip

Preliminary studies of the space elevator suggest that it would be capable of lifting 5-ton payloads every day to all Earth orbits, the Moon, Mars, Venus or the asteroids. Furthermore, it could be operational in 15 years.

Now projected to be on the order of a $6 billion investment, the first space elevator could quickly reduce lift costs to $100 per pound. That far outstrips today’s pricey launch costs of roughly $10,000 to $40,000 per pound, depending upon destination and choice of rocket launch system.


http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/technology/space_elevator_030917.html

[JHB]

1. For more on this...

...try:

http://www.spaceelevator.com/

(I swear just about everything has a .com URL)