The BetterSpaceElevator is a new concept for a space elevator design.

  The Better Space Elevator as proposed would consist of a continuous loop of high strength tether material which would extend to a pulley or pulley system anchored to a counterweight sited beyond geosynchronous orbit. On the ground would be two widely spaced anchor points with additional pulleys forming a triangular arrangement. The tether material would be looped around the pulleys at these three points in such a way that is would be able to freely circulate around these points.  The drive apparatus would be sited in between the anchor points on the ground and be designed to directly apply drive power to the tether via drive wheels and/or pulleys. Loads to be sent into or returned from space would be clamped to the tether and moved by the motion of the tether itself.

 The currently accepted concept of design for a space elevator consists of a single strand of high strength tether material, a counterweight, and an elevator apparatus which would be designed to climb this tether. The climber gets its power beamed from a base station in the form of laser light which is converted by solar cells into electricity to power the climber mechanism on board the elevator.

 The biggest issue associated with these proposals is that there does not currently exist a material suitable for producing a tether that is both light and strong enough for this purpose. However recent breakthroughs in producing carbon nano tubes hint that the tether material may be possible in the near future.