If we built a working space elevator, would it open up space travel to everyone, not just astronauts?
Well, not exactly. The reason a space elevator is so desired, is because it would make the costs of getting stuff into orbit a lot cheaper. Right now we have to use costly rockets to get things into orbit. Slipknot is correct, a space elevator would be used for cargo transportation, not human transportation. But a space elevator is not going to be possible for at least 20 to 30 years. The reason is because we cannot mass-produce carbon nanotubes on a large scale at this time. Carbon nanotubes are extremely strong carbon molecule structures that would be required to create a strong enough wire from earth’s surface to earth’s orbit. Also, we currently do not have the technology to create the “elevator” that would ferry supplies to orbit (but engineers are working on designs right now).
