International opportunities and technical challenges for the space elevator

Abstract

The space elevator is a hypothetical concept for placing satellites in orbit around Earth that would result in dramatic cost savings over traditional rocket launches. The space elevator would work by placing a counterweight in space that is tethered to the Earth's surface and held in place by the centrifugal force of the Earth's rotation. Technical challenges, particularly those related to the tether material, have prevented a space elevator from getting past the design stage. Should future advances in materials science allow the space elevator to be built, consideration should be paid to the geopolitical influence that a real space elevator might have. Its unique combination of cost, wartime utility, and vulnerability mean that a peaceful consortium of nations working together should be considered as a potential management model.