I remember reading about different materials based on things like spiders silk that could provide the strength needed for the tether.

Would be great if they can get it figured out. It would make space exploration exponentially easier and cheaper.
mikeyjo Reviewed by mikeyjo on . Space Elevator Has anyone ever heard about the space elevator? It's an idea for a tether that attaches to the ground at one end, and attaches to a counterweight that is out past geosynchronous orbit at the other end. The fact that the counterweight is out past geosynchronous orbit means that the tether is kept tight by centrifugal force, and you can run an "elevator" or "climber" up the cable to orbit. You could drop a satelite off at the geosynchronous orbit point, and have it in orbit without ever Rating: 5