Climbers could also descend the tether to return cargo to the surface from orbit. With the tether deployed, climbers could repeatedly climb the tether to space by mechanical means, releasing their cargo to orbit. The competing forces of gravity, which is stronger at the lower end, and the outward/upward centrifugal force, which is stronger at the upper end, would result in the cable being held up, under tension, and stationary over a single position on Earth. An Earth-based space elevator would consist of a cable with one end attached to the surface near the equator and the other end in space beyond geostationary orbit (35,786 km altitude). The design would permit vehicles to travel along the cable from a planetary surface, such as the Earth's, directly into orbit, without the use of large rockets. The main component would be a cable (also called a tether) anchored to the surface and extending into space. A free-flying satellite (green dot) is shown in geostationary orbit slightly behind the cable.Ī space elevator is a proposed type of planet-to-space transportation system. Space elevator in motion rotating with Earth, viewed from above North Pole.
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