In what has to be one of the coolest things I have heard about in a while, this story at space.com talks about host technologically close to producing a “space elevator” we actually are.
The theory goes something like this… get a super strong 62,000 mile long ribbon/nano-tube; attach it (very firmly) to the ground; attach other end to a large weight up in space. If you can meet those criteria then the centrifugal force and the Earth’s gravity will keep it tight. Then its imply a matter of sending electrical vehicles up and down it.
The idea has been around for a long time (the science is pretty sound for it) the problem is the strength of the materials involved. Well, it looks like carbon nano-tubes can easily handle the load. Maybe this is just the ticket to fixing the 40 year mistake that has almost screwed my generations aspirations for space travel.