The Reality of Space Elevators is Approaching
The concept of a space elevator, which could bring the cost of sending a payload to any Earth orbit as low as $100 per pound, has been around since the 1950s. However, the biggest challenge has been finding a material strong enough to build the tether. Carbon nanotubes were once thought to be the solution, but their synthesis has proven difficult. Other options, such as Kevlar fibers and graphene, are being explored. Despite progress, the need for a space elevator may have evaporated as reusable rockets and alternative launch technologies, such as SpinLaunch's centrifuge, continue to develop.