[orionblamblam]

> The overwhelming reason space elevators are (in theory) far less expensive than rockets is because rockets have to accelerate their propellant with them. That's it.

Tell me: how does the payload get up the elevator? Seems to me that a beamed-energy system is needed to power the climber. Where does the energy come from? Who builds and maintains the laser, and how much do they get paid? How much energy *total* is required to climb up to GEO, and how does that compare to the energy requirements for a rocket?

[Spiff]

Tell me: how does the payload get up the elevator? Seems to me that a beamed-energy system is needed to power the climber. Where does the energy come from? Who builds and maintains the laser, and how much do they get paid? How much energy *total* is required to climb up to GEO, and how does that compare to the energy requirements for a rocket?

Read the rest of the Wiki entry. I also urge you to read up on the subject. A simple Google search will lead you to several papers from NASA and other organizations.

[Spiff]

Tell me: how does the payload get up the elevator? Seems to me that a beamed-energy system is needed to power the climber. Where does the energy come from? Who builds and maintains the laser, and how much do they get paid? How much energy *total* is required to climb up to GEO, and how does that compare to the energy requirements for a rocket?

The beamed energy system is one proposed method of powering a crawler. There are other methods. The amount of energy is simply the amount needed to mechanically pull the weight the distance required. Are you putting forth the argument that it would cost the same to move a certain amount of weight by train as it would to by rocket launch? That is really the comparison here.