The Problem
Space travel is incredibly hard to achieve, and incredibly expensive. Even after decades of research and development, rocket technology is still expensive and time consuming. Transporting resources and supplies into space is also incredibly inefficient, with the ratio of payload mass to total rocket mass being 4%-5%.
The Solution
Space travel needs to be re-imagined, we need new and better ways of getting to space. Introducing: Tether Spaceways!! My solution is looking at the theory of using an enormous tether and positioning it into a low-earth orbit. This would allow us to use much smaller spacecraft and much less fuel to reach the tip of the tether at its lowest altitude, and allow the tether to launch us out into outer space. Whether using the tether as an elevator or spinning the tether to slingshot us, either situation puts us within reach of the inner planets, while also greatly reducing the amount of fuel needed.
