> How will you do that, with what kind of energy source? Rocket motors?
The idea of an elevator is you only have to go up. With a rocket, you have to go both up and over.
Rockets would work. Solar power would be better—the 2 kW array (~100 sq ft) needed [1]is more than doable; you could use a smaller panel with batteries, too. Surface nuclear of the kind we’re already developing [2] might also make sense, though now you need lasers.
The idea of an elevator is you only have to go up. With a rocket, you have to go both up and over.
Rockets would work. Solar power would be better—the 2 kW array (~100 sq ft) needed [1]is more than doable; you could use a smaller panel with batteries, too. Surface nuclear of the kind we’re already developing [2] might also make sense, though now you need lasers.
[1] https://www.niac.usra.edu/files/studies/final_report/1032Pea...
[2] https://www.space.com/nasa-moon-nuclear-reactor-project-firs...