Space Elevator: High Hopes, Lofty Goals

Posted by tourdemars to Technology at September 17, 2003 12:00 PM

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.