What is a Space Elevator?
A space elevator is a concept for a “lift” of sorts to raise things out of the gravity well of the earth. It’s basically a long, strong “cable” that is tied to earth and to a counterweight out in space. Materials are loaded into “cars” on the cable, and the units “crawl” up the cable to break free of earth’s gravity. A link can be found below.
A Space Elevator, or more specifically the LiftPort Space Elevator, will consist of a ribbon made of a very strong and very light material, carbon nanotubes, anchored to the Earth’s surface at the LiftPort Station with the other end reaching into space. By making the ribbon long enough, and attaching a small satellite as counterweight, the Earth’s rotation will provide enough centrifugal effect to overcome the pull of gravity and keep the ribbon taut. The LiftPort Space Elevator will then provide a permanent bridge between earth and space. Elevator cars will be robotic “lifters” which will climb the ribbon to deliver cargo and eventually people to orbit or beyond.
