The space elevator

The space elevator, also known as a spacebridge, is a physical connection from the surface of the Earth, or another planetary body such as Mars, to at least geostationary orbit. Currently it is conceived as a carbon nanotube ribbon stretching some 100 000 km from Earth to space. The elevator will be anchored to an offshore sea platform near the equator in the Pacific Ocean, and to a small counterweight in space. Mechanical lifters will move up and down the ribbon, carrying such items as satellites, solar power systems and, eventually, people into space.