A
strong cable lowered from a geosynchronous satellite and anchored to the
ground (often with a small asteroid at the outer end to provide some extra
tension and stability). This would provide cheap and simple access to space
using elevators. Also called an orbital
tower. (See The Orbital
Tower by Jerome D. Rosen and sky
hooks) [This is an old idea in science
fiction and probably first discussed by Yuri Artsutanov, although it was
popularized by Arthur C Clarke's The Fountains of Paradise (1979). The term Beanstalk
was spread by the roleplaying game 2300AD by GDW.]
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