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Obayashi's $100B Space Elevator Plan, Diamond Tether Cuts Launch Costs

6/28/2026

Summary

Story summary

Obayashi Corporation unveiled a $100 billion plan to build a robotic-maglev space elevator by 2050.
The International Space Elevator Consortium says a functional tether is missing, keeping the project in research.
Penn State chemist John Badding’s team announced diamond nanothreads that could surpass carbon nanotubes for tether use.
The International Academy of Astronautics estimates a completed elevator could lower launch costs to $500 per kilogram, far below today’s $20,000 per kilogram.

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Story summary

Obayashi Corporation unveiled a $100 billion plan to build a robotic-maglev space elevator by 2050.
The International Space Elevator Consortium says a functional tether is missing, keeping the project in research.
Penn State chemist John Badding’s team announced diamond nanothreads that could surpass carbon nanotubes for tether use.
The International Academy of Astronautics estimates a completed elevator could lower launch costs to $500 per kilogram, far below today’s $20,000 per kilogram.