Since biblical times, humans have dreamed of climbing a tower to reach the stars. In the last hundred years, scientists and science fiction writers have developed and popularized this idea, creating the concept of the "space elevator."

The backbone of the space elevator is essentially a long cable or ribbon which extends from earth's surface, through the atmosphere, thousands of kilometers into space. To prevent a rotation of the elevator relative to earth, the system's center of mass would be in geosynchronous orbit.

Materials would be transported up the ribbon via "crawlers" - vehicles secured to the ribbon powered by a laser beam shot from earth. Scientists estimate that the space elevator could transport payload, including humans, at a cost of $100 per kilogram. By contrast, the conventional shuttle flight costs over $10,000/kg.

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