Lunar Elevator Project

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