Space Elevator

A Space Elevator is a Theoretical Transportation Device that is essentially an elevator to space. It consists of a Cable, a Car, and a Counterweight. The economic cost of building a Space Elevator would initially be massive, but it would make up for it tenfold in a matter of years by making Space Travel astronomically easier. This also gives Space Travel Technology the added benefit of no longer being bound by things like "Escape Velocity" or "Atmospheric Reentry".

Basic concept
The whole idea behind this concept is to create a faster way for Humans to travel from the Earth to the Moon, without the need of a spacecraft.

Cable
Fact: the Space Elevator's Cable would need to be really, really long. No joke. In order for it to be effective, the cable would need to stretch at least beyond geostationary orbit, which is 35,800 km. This is 3 times the diameter of the Earth.

The Cable would need to be constructed from something highly resilient that could withstand enormous tensile forces. Carbon Nanotubes seem to be a favorite.

Counterweight

 * The Counterweight's purpose is to anchor the elevator "in space" so the cable doesn't fall, break up upon reentry, and shower the entire planet with firey carbon nanotube debris.


 * The Counterweight would either be a large asteroid lured into orbit or a kind of space station sent into position from Earth.


 * The Counterweight would then be retrofitted with hangars, factories, living quarters, the like.