What is a lunar space elevator?
A lunar space elevator (also called a moonstalk) is a proposed cable running from the surface of the Moon into space. There are two lunar-synchronous points where the elevator could be placed that would be stable: the libration points L1 and L2. L1 on the Earth side of the Moon is 56,000 km up from the surface, and L2 on the far side is 67,000 km up. In these positions, the forces of gravity and centrifugal force are equal, and as long as the system remained balanced (L1 and L2 are in unstable equilibrium along the line between Earth and Moon), it would remain stationary. [Source: Wikipedia]
What is the project outline?
Step 0: Do a demonstrator. [this is a basic demonstrator]
Step 1: Build a dummy Earth-Moon model with a Moonstalk.
Step 2: Build a working Earth-Moon model with a Moonstalk.
Step 3: Build an engineering scale model of the Moonstalk (operated on Earth)
Timeline: 3-5 years