*ping*
We’re not getting the space elevator in our lifetime because nothing having the combined tensile strength and lightness seems attainable in our universe’s rules of physics.
We COULD have a ramp system that goes up to mid-atmosphere, runs through the existing air jet-wise then goes rocket for the short run to gravitational freedom.
Some near-equatorial nation would surely love a monstrous roller coaster to the clouds covering a huge amount of acreage in exchange for billions of dollars.
Thanks fieldmarshaldj. Since the SLS was a (non-existent) solution in search of a problem, and would have eventually just been used to build and then maintain and crew the so called Deep Space Gateway (a.k.a., the new bridge to nowhere), cancelling it at long last will save a fortune, and probably save NASA at the same time.
The liquid-fueled core booster wouldn't be able to get itself off the ground, which is why it would need two or four (depending on the mission) SRBs -- the obvious need then is a five-SRB main booster, which would be cheaper, easier to recycle, easier to develop, and have a much greater payload capacity. Oh, and cheaper, did I mention that? And it would cost much less too. Liquid-fueled upper stages would still be necessary, but would be tiny by comparison.