Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


        20-Kilometer Inflatable Tower Could Make Space Launches Cheaper

   by George Putic

   Launching space vehicles is still very costly because booster rockets
   are not reusable. A space elevator could make it dramatically cheaper
   but we still do not have the material for the space cable that could
   lift such an elevator to a height that would eliminate the need for a
   booster rocket. Canadian company Thoth Technologies won a U.S. patent
   for a different solution ' an elevator encased within a 20-kilometer
   space tower that could bring people and vehicles much closer to outer
   space. VOA's George Putic reports.
     __________________________________________________________________

   [1]http://www.voanews.com/media/video/2975936.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/media/video/2975936.html