Graphene breakthrough nudges space elevator dream toward reality
A breakthrough from the International Space Elevator Consortium proposes polycrystalline graphene as a tether for a future space elevator, potentially ferrying cargo from the equator to beyond GEO and enabling rapid trips to the Moon or Mars; while a 1,000-meter graphene test and optimistic projections exist, experts warn real-world construction would take decades and face cost, debris and engineering hurdles.