The Great Space Hype

Talktalktalk:

The Japanese construction giant Obayashi says they will build a space elevator that will reach 96,000 kilometres into space.

"The tensile strength [of carbon fiber] is almost a hundred times stronger than steel cable so it's possible," Mr Yoji Ishikawa, a research and development manager at Obayashi, said.

"Right now we can't make the cable long enough. We can only make 3-centimetre-long nanotubes but...we think by 2030 we'll be able to do it."

Oh, is that all? From 3 cm to 9,600,000,000 cm. That's not much difference. Easy-squeezie!

I'm all for a space elevator; I believe it's the future of humanity and our gateway to the solar system and eventually the stars. But pie-in-the-sky promises and hot air from corporate PR departments build exactly two things: Jack and Shit. Show me the goods or STFU.