As its name suggests, a space elevator is designed to raise things into space. Satellites, components for space ships, supplies for astronauts in space stations. and even astronauts themselves are examples of payloads that could be transported into orbit without the need for explosive and environmentally unfriendly rockets. However, the altitude of orbital space-a colossal 35,790 km above the earth-is a measure of the challenge facing engineers. How could such a height be reached?