Space Elevators

Imagine riding an elevator all the way to space instead of using a rocket. That is the idea behind a space elevator. It would be a super-strong cable stretching from the ground up to a station in orbit. Climbers would travel up and down the cable, carrying people and supplies. It is still just an idea, but scientists are working on it.

How It Would Work

A space elevator would have a cable anchored to the ground near the equator. The cable would stretch about 22,000 miles up to a counterweight in space. Mechanical climbers would move up and down the cable. The cable would need to be incredibly strong and light. A material called carbon nanotubes might work, but we cannot make them long enough yet.

Why It Would Be Useful

Right now, it costs thousands of dollars to send one pound of cargo to space by rocket. A space elevator could reduce that cost by a huge amount. It would not need fuel like a rocket does. This could make it much easier and cheaper to send people, satellites, and supplies to space. Some scientists think we could build one by the end of this century.

Fun Facts

• The idea of a space elevator was first described by a Russian scientist in 1895.
• A space elevator cable would need to be about 22,000 miles long, almost 100 times higher than where airplanes fly.
• Japan has been testing small space elevator designs in orbit.

Did You Know?

The cable for a space elevator would need to be about 100 times stronger than steel but much lighter. Scientists think a material called carbon nanotubes could one day be strong enough.