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Japanese Company Announces Plans to Build 20,000-Mile-High Space Elevator by 2050

Scientists have long considered the possibility of creating ultra-tall space elevators that stretch beyond the earth’s atmosphere to transport satellites and shuttles into outer space without the cost and environmental impact of rocket fuels. Now a Japanese company specializing in major infrastructure projects called The Obayashi Corporation has announced plans to build a space elevator by 2050, with the aim of taking tourists 20,000 miles above the planet’s surface.

I remember reading about these things ten years ago. It’s hard to imagine one of these things actually being built. If I remember correctly, one of the problems that they have to overcome is that a vehicle travelling up the elevator would build up so much static electricity that any people inside would not be able to survive. Anyway, it’s kind of interesting.

I remember this as well.  The problem I heard was the necessary tensile strength of the cable, but they seem confident that they’ll get something strong enough in time.  6 billion for the elevator?  That’s chump change considering how mindbogglingly useful it would be.  I have to start saving my pennies for a space elevator ride!  I’ll be about 87 years old by then.  Plenty young enough.  ~ Steve