My fellow earth-bounders interested in space in all its possibilities are most likely aware of the long-studied potential for a space elevator. Basically the idea has been to tie a super-long nano-tube (they are not yet capable of producing this, but advances come every day) to a well-fortified base on Earth and then extend the tube into space where a station would be built at the top in geosynchronous orbit. Then a car of some fashion would leave Earth and travel to the top. From there space jumps could be launched with materials brought from Earth. This station would be thousands of miles in space.
One problem not near a solution is the 17,000 estimated pieces of satellite and space junk in orbit.
Now a new proposal......hang the elevator from the moon toward the Earth. End it in orbit above the space junk and transport to and from there. Thus two-way shipping could be achieved.....supplies and parts for space ventures go up, and materials mined on the moon come down.
It is being studied....
I find it amazingly possible! No cable from Earth to be exposed to everything from airplanes to space junk. There remains development of the nano-tubes able to be strung in lengths. And, one would still have to carry the materials going and coming by a ship/airplane to and from the Earth and Moon.
Exciting!
