Why Don't We Have Space Elevators Yet?

In his 1979 novel The Fountains of Paradise, science-fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke introduced the idea of space elevators to the mainstream scientific community and the general public.

The fundamental principle hasn't changed much in more than 40 years: A space elevator would consist of a powerful cable, or tether, anchored on one end to the Earth and on the other to a counterweight in geosynchronous orbit with Earth.

A space elevator could easily get people and materials into space at a fraction of the energy and cost a rocket launch requires. Instead of burning expensive fuel to launch heavy objects off of Earth's surface, the elevator could convey them up the tether past lower Earth orbit and into space. Read more...

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