62,000 miles of any wire or ribbon, of any material, would be massively heavy all on its own and end up breaking under its own weight.
Not to mention sun, moisture, wind, airplanes.
I’ve seen experiments with carbon nanotubes. I don’t know how successful they were.
Don forget giant robots piloted by some dudes with purple hair.
If made out of carbon one foot in diameter, 18,193,470 tons. I suspect that carbon nanotube cable 1 foot in diameter couldn't even come close to supporting 18 million tons plus other stresses.
The idea is to use cable made from carbon nanotubes or similar, yet-to-be-invented materials. These have a tensile strength by weight of about 100 times more than steel. So, in theory, a cable could support its own weight into space and also carry additional payload weight. The problem so far has been the ability to produce continuous lengths of such cable.
While there are many obstacles to be overcome, the feasibility is very likely at some point. Some of the questions here sound like people mocking the idea that a jet made of metal could ever fly — carrying its own weight as well as that of cargo and passengers. Of course we now know that it is feasible and also a profitable and worthwhile accomplishment.
Space elevator technology could allow space colonization in a way that is not currently feasible.
sun, moisture, wind, airplanes....
Okay, let’s say we somehow get around all that. I’m just doing a little math here: Moving at 100 mph, It’s about a 26 day trip one-way, non-stop. A little over three weeks. Four if the speed drops to 90 mph. How much power is it going to take to a) lift something and b) keep it from falling at terminal velocity?
And I can just imagine humans on board with a breakdown happens. Not a crash, just a breakdown. How do you make repairs as say 200,000 feet?
And another thing: just for poops and laughs, I decided to check the weight on this pipe if it happens to be 1 inch carbon steel.
249,984 tons.
Yeah, I know, it would have to be a lot bigger than an inch.
So, can I go back to laughing now?