Space Elevators In Fiction
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This is a list of occurrences of space elevators in fiction. Some depictions were made before the
space elevator A space elevator, also referred to as a space bridge, star ladder, and orbital lift, is a proposed type of planet-to-space transportation system, often depicted in science fiction. The main component would be a cable (also called a tether) an ...
concept became fully established.


Novels and fairy tales

* Kris Longknife series by Mike Shepherd. Space elevators are ubiquitous across the known galaxy. *'' 2061: Odyssey Three'' (1987), novel by
Arthur C. Clarke Sir Arthur Charles Clarke (16 December 191719 March 2008) was an English science fiction writer, science writer, futurist, inventor, undersea explorer, and television series host. Clarke co-wrote the screenplay for the 1968 film '' 2001: A ...
. The possibility of a space elevator is realised after a groundbreaking discovery that Jupiter's core (now in fragments around the orbit of Lucifer, the small sun formed by the implosion of Jupiter) had been a solid diamond; as the hardest substance in nature, suddenly available in vast quantities, it facilitates the construction of a solid elevator rather than the more common tether structure previously envisaged * '' 2312'' (2012), novel by
Kim Stanley Robinson Kim Stanley Robinson (born March 23, 1952) is an American science fiction writer best known for his ''Mars'' trilogy. Many of his novels and stories have ecological, cultural, and political themes and feature scientists as heroes. Robinson has ...
. Thirty-seven space elevators connect Earth's surface to orbit. * '' 3001: The Final Odyssey'' (1997), novel by
Arthur C. Clarke Sir Arthur Charles Clarke (16 December 191719 March 2008) was an English science fiction writer, science writer, futurist, inventor, undersea explorer, and television series host. Clarke co-wrote the screenplay for the 1968 film '' 2001: A ...
. In this novel, a ring habitat now exists around the Earth that is connected to the surface via four inhabitable towers–assumed successors to space elevators * '' Across the Sea of Stars'', collection by Arthur C. Clarke * '' Across the Sea of Suns'' (1984), novel by
Gregory Benford Gregory Benford (born January 30, 1941) is an American science fiction author and astrophysicist who is professor emeritus at the department of physics and astronomy at the University of California, Irvine. He is a contributing editor of ''Reason ...
* '' Assassin Gambit'', novel by
William R. Forstchen William R. Forstchen (born October 11, 1950) is an American historian and author. A Professor of History and Faculty Fellow at Montreat College, in Montreat, North Carolina, he received his doctorate from Purdue University. He has published n ...
* ''
Blake's 7 ''Blake's 7'' is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. Four series of thirteen 50-minute episodes were broadcast on BBC1 between 1978 and 1981. It was created by Terry Nation, who also wrote the first series, prod ...
: Archangel'', novel by Scott Harrison. While in a hologram simulation of an alien city called Teshak City, a character spots the bottom of a space lift connected to a promontory of rock further down the river. * '' Blue Remembered Earth'' (2012), novel by
Alastair Reynolds Alastair Preston Reynolds (born 13 March 1966) is a Welsh science fiction author. He specialises in hard science fiction and space opera. Early life Reynolds was born in Wales and spent his early years in Cornwall before moving back to Wales, ...
* ''
Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator ''Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator'' is a children's book by British author Roald Dahl. It is the sequel to '' Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'', continuing the story of young Charlie Bucket and chocolatier Willy Wonka as they travel i ...
'' (1972), novel by
Roald Dahl Roald Dahl (13 September 1916 – 23 November 1990) was a British author of popular children's literature and short stories, a poet, screenwriter and a wartime Flying ace, fighter ace. His books have sold more than 300 million copies ...
. While technically an elevator in space, this may not qualify as a "space elevator." * '' Chasm City'' (2001), novel by
Alastair Reynolds Alastair Preston Reynolds (born 13 March 1966) is a Welsh science fiction author. He specialises in hard science fiction and space opera. Early life Reynolds was born in Wales and spent his early years in Cornwall before moving back to Wales, ...
* ''City of Heaven'', novel by Tom Terry depicts a terrorist attack aboard a space elevator * '' Coyote Frontier'', novel by
Allen Steele Allen Mulherin Steele, Jr. (born January 19, 1958) is an American journalist and science fiction author. Background Steele was born in Nashville, Tennessee, on January 19, 1958. He was introduced to science fiction fandom attending meetings o ...
* '' Creation Node'', novel by Stephen Baxter. Helium-3 is mined in Saturn's atmosphere via a space elevator attached to a habitat in orbit around the planet. * '' Deepsix'', novel by
Jack McDevitt Jack McDevitt (born April 14, 1935) is an American science fiction author whose novels frequently deal with attempts to make contact with alien races, and with archaeology or xenoarchaeology. Most of his books follow either superluminal pilot ...
. The remains of a space elevator are found on a doomed planet * '' The Descent of Anansi'', novel by
Steven Barnes Steven Barnes (born March 1, 1952) is an American science fiction, fantasy, and mystery writer. He has written novels, short fiction, screen plays for television, scripts for comic books, animation, newspaper copy, and magazine articles. Earl ...
and
Larry Niven Laurence van Cott Niven (; born April 30, 1938) is an American science fiction writer. His 1970 novel ''Ringworld'' won the Hugo Award for Best Novel, Hugo, Locus Award, Locus, Ditmar Award, Ditmar, and Nebula Award for Best Novel, Nebula award ...
() * '' The Dire Earth Cycle'', trilogy by Jason M. Hough * ''
Drakon DRAKON () is a Free and open-source software, free and open source algorithmic visual programming language, visual programming and modeling language developed as part of the defunct Soviet Union Buran program, Buran space program in 1986 ...
'', novel by S.M. Stirling. Referred to as the ''beanstalk'' * '' The End of the Empire'', novel by Alexis A. Gilliland * '' Feersum Endjinn'' (1994), novel by Iain M. Banks * First Ascent (2025), novel by Douglas Phillips. A space elevator appears overnight off the coast of Ecuador. Its graphene laminate tether, six stations, and maglev V-pod climber become the primary settings for the story. * '' Foreigner'' (1994), novel by Robert J. Sawyer * ''
Free Fall In classical mechanics, free fall is any motion of a physical object, body where gravity is the only force acting upon it. A freely falling object may not necessarily be falling down in the vertical direction. If the common definition of the word ...
'' (2011), novel by William H. Keith * ''
Friday Friday is the day of the week between Thursday and Saturday. In countries that adopt the traditional "Sunday-first" convention, it is the sixth day of the week. In countries adopting the ISO 8601-defined "Monday-first" convention, it is the fifth ...
'' (1982), novel by
Robert A. Heinlein Robert Anson Heinlein ( ; July 7, 1907 – May 8, 1988) was an American science fiction author, aeronautical engineer, and naval officer. Sometimes called the "dean of science fiction writers", he was among the first to emphasize scientific acc ...
* ''
The Fountains of Paradise ''The Fountains of Paradise'' is a 1979 science fiction novel by British writer Arthur C. Clarke. Set in the 22nd century, it describes the construction of a space elevator. This "orbital tower" is a giant structure rising from the ground and l ...
'' (1979), novel by
Arthur C. Clarke Sir Arthur Charles Clarke (16 December 191719 March 2008) was an English science fiction writer, science writer, futurist, inventor, undersea explorer, and television series host. Clarke co-wrote the screenplay for the 1968 film '' 2001: A ...
. This novel is primarily about the construction of a space elevator on a mountain top on Earth in a fictionalised version of Sri Lanka. * ''
The Golden Globe ''The Golden Globe'' is a 1998 science fiction novel by American writer John Varley. The book takes places a few years after the conclusion of '' Steel Beach.'' It was nominated for Best Science Fiction Novel during the 1999 Locus Awards. Pl ...
'' (1998), a novel by John Varley. Details a journey on a space elevator on an artificial satellite of Uranus called Oberon II, built and maintained by giant spiders spinning material with extreme tensile strength. * ''The Gordon Mamon Casebook'', five SF murder-mystery stories (''Murder On The Zenith Express'', ''Single Handed'', ''The Fall Guy'', ''The Hunt For Red Leicester'', and ''A Night To Remember'') by Simon Petrie, set on a string of hotel modules ascending and descending a space elevator that connects Earth with a mega-hotel in geosynchronous orbit. A subsequent novella, ''Elevator Pitch'', shares this setting. * '' Hammered'' (2004), by
Elizabeth Bear Sarah Bear Elizabeth Wishnevsky (born September 22, 1971) is an American author who works primarily in speculative fiction genres, writing under the name Elizabeth Bear. She won the 2005 Astounding Award for Best New Writer, John W. Campbell Awar ...
, features a sex scene on a space elevator. * '' Halo: Ghosts of Onyx'' (2006), novel by Eric S. Nylund. Features the UNSC Centennial Orbital Elevator in Havana, Cuba. *Halo: Contact Harvest, It depicts the Harvest space elevator, which is used to evacuate the population and militia to orbit during the first battle of Harvest * ''The Highest Frontier'', novel by
Joan Slonczewski Joan Lyn Slonczewski (born August 14, 1956) is an American microbiologist at Kenyon College and a science fiction writer who explores biology and space travel. Her books have twice earned the John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best Science Ficti ...
. A college student rides a space elevator constructed of self-healing cables of anthrax bacilli. The engineered bacteria can regrow the cables when severed by space debris. * '' Hothouse'' (1962), novel by
Brian Aldiss Brian Wilson Aldiss (; 18 August 1925 – 19 August 2017) was an English writer, artist and anthology editor, best known for science fiction novels and short stories. His byline reads either Brian W. Aldiss or simply Brian Aldiss, except for oc ...
. The space elevator in this novel is in actuality a giant
banyan A banyan, also spelled banian ( ), is a fig that develops accessory trunks from adjacent prop roots, allowing the tree to spread outwards indefinitely. This distinguishes banyans from other trees with a strangler habit that begin life as ...
tree, which has grown to enormous size over many millennia. * ''I have a Mansion in the Post-Apocalyptic World'', web novel by Morning Star LL. Main character, Jiang Chen, after acquiring relevant knowledge (and more or less intact parts) from parallel post-apocalyptic world, eventually builds whole two space elevators on Earth using his company, Celestial Trade. * ''Jack and the Skyhook'', children's book by
Damien Broderick Damien Francis Broderick (22 April 1944 – 19 April 2025) was an Australian science fiction and popular science writer and editor of some 74 books. ''The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction'' credits him with the first usage of the term ''virtual ...
* '' Johnny Mackintosh and the Spirit of London'', novel by
Keith Mansfield Keith Mansfield (born 1940 in Slough, England) is a British composer and arranger known for his creation of prominent television theme tunes, including the ''Grandstand'' theme for the BBC. Career Mansfield's other works include "The Young S ...
. Title character Johnny Mackintosh and sister
Clara Clara may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Clara'' (2018 film), a Canadian sci-fi drama * ''Clara'' (2019 film), a Ukrainian animated fantasy film * ''Clara'' (TV series), a German TV series * Clara the Cow, mascot of the Greek TV show '' P ...
leave Earth for the first time in a secret space elevator. * '' Jumping Off the Planet'', novel by
David Gerrold David Gerrold (born Jerrold David Friedman; January 24, 1944)Reginald, R. (September 12, 2010)''Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature, Volume 2'' Borgo Press p. 911. Archived at Google Books. Retrieved June 23, 2013. is an American science fict ...
* ''
The Last Theorem ''The Last Theorem'' is a 2008 science fiction novel by Arthur C. Clarke, Arthur C. Clarke and Frederik Pohl. It was first published in the United Kingdom by HarperCollins, HarperVoyager in July 2008, and in the United States by Del Rey Boo ...
'' (2008), novel by
Arthur C. Clarke Sir Arthur Charles Clarke (16 December 191719 March 2008) was an English science fiction writer, science writer, futurist, inventor, undersea explorer, and television series host. Clarke co-wrote the screenplay for the 1968 film '' 2001: A ...
and
Frederik Pohl Frederik George Pohl Jr. (; November 26, 1919 – September 2, 2013) was an American list of science fiction authors, science-fiction writer, editor, and science fiction fandom, fan, with a career spanning nearly 75 years—from his first ...
* '' Limit'' (2009), novel by
Frank Schätzing Frank Schätzing (; born 28 May 1957) is a German writer, mostly known for his best-selling science fiction novel '' The Swarm'' (2004). Life Schätzing was born in Cologne and studied communication studies; he later ran his own company, an ...
. Used for transporting nuclear fuel between Moon and Earth. * ''
The Long Mars ''The Long Mars'' is a science fiction novel by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter. It is the third in a five-book series of the parallel-Earth sequence ''The Long Earth''. Originally entitled ''The Long Childhood'', it was changed to ''The L ...
'' (2014), novel by Stephen Baxter and
Terry Pratchett Sir Terence David John Pratchett (28 April 1948 – 12 March 2015) was an English author, humorist, and Satire, satirist, best known for the ''Discworld'' series of 41 comic fantasy novels published between 1983 and 2015, and for the Apocalyp ...
. In the parallel martian worlds, the existence of the elevator is proven as to be a logical step for a long-gone civilization. * '' The Mars Trilogy'', a series of novels (''Red Mars'', ''Green Mars'', and ''Blue Mars'') by
Kim Stanley Robinson Kim Stanley Robinson (born March 23, 1952) is an American science fiction writer best known for his ''Mars'' trilogy. Many of his novels and stories have ecological, cultural, and political themes and feature scientists as heroes. Robinson has ...
, depicts space elevators on Earth and on Mars, the cables of which are made of
carbon nanotube A carbon nanotube (CNT) is a tube made of carbon with a diameter in the nanometre range ( nanoscale). They are one of the allotropes of carbon. Two broad classes of carbon nanotubes are recognized: * ''Single-walled carbon nanotubes'' (''S ...
s manufactured on asteroids and lowered into each planet's atmosphere, using the asteroid as a counterweight. ''Red Mars'' depicts what happens when a cable is cut at the asteroid anchor point. * ''Marsbound'', novel by
Joe Haldeman Joe William Haldeman (born June 9, 1943) is an American people, American science fiction author and former college professor. He is best known for his novel ''The Forever War'' (1974), which was inspired by his experiences as a combat soldier ...
* '' Mercury'' (2005), novel by
Ben Bova Benjamin William Bova (November 8, 1932November 29, 2020) was an American writer and editor. During a writing career of 60 years, he was the author of more than 120 works of science fact and fiction, an editor of ''Analog Science Fiction and Fac ...
about a space elevator sabotage that gets an innocent man exiled from Earth * '' Metaplanetary'' and ''
Superluminal Faster-than-light (superluminal or supercausal) travel and communication are the conjectural propagation of matter or information faster than the speed of light in vacuum (). The special theory of relativity implies that only particles with zero ...
'', novels by
Tony Daniel Antonio Salvador Daniel (born 1977), known by the Anglicised professional name Tony S. Daniel or simply Tony Daniel, is an American comic book writer and artist, known for his work on various books for DC Comics, including ''Teen Titans'', '' F ...
* '' The Mirrored Heavens'', novel by
David J. Williams __NOTOC__ David J. Williams (born March 5, 1971) is a British-born American science fiction writer and video game writer. His debut novel, '' The Mirrored Heavens'', was described as "Tom Clancy interfacing Bruce Sterling" by Stephen Baxter, a ...
* '' The Night Sessions'' (2008), novel by
Ken MacLeod Kenneth Macrae MacLeod (born 2 August 1954) is a Scottish science fiction writer. His novels ''The Sky Road'' and '' The Night Sessions'' won the BSFA Award. MacLeod's novels have been nominated for the Arthur C. Clarke, Hugo, Nebula, Locus ...
* ''
The Night's Dawn Trilogy British author Peter F. Hamilton's ''The Night's Dawn Trilogy'' consists of three science fiction novels: ''The Reality Dysfunction'' (1996), ''The Neutronium Alchemist'' (1997), and ''The Naked God'' (1999). A collection of short stories, ''A ...
'', novels by Peter F. Hamilton * ''
Old Man's War ''Old Man's War'' is a military science fiction novel by American writer John Scalzi, published in 2005. His debut novel was nominated for the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 2006. ''Old Man's War'' is the first novel in Scalzi's ''Old Man's ...
'', novel by
John Scalzi John Michael Scalzi II (born May 10, 1969) is an American science fiction author and former president of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. He is best known for his ''Old Man's War'' series, three novels of which have been n ...
. Explicitly established not to be in a physically viable orbit, indicating the government which maintains it is keeping technological secrets from Earth. * '' Pillar to the Sky'', novel by
William R. Forstchen William R. Forstchen (born October 11, 1950) is an American historian and author. A Professor of History and Faculty Fellow at Montreat College, in Montreat, North Carolina, he received his doctorate from Purdue University. He has published n ...
* ''Places in the Darkness'', novel by
Christopher Brookmyre Christopher Brookmyre (born 6 September 1968) is a Scottish novelist whose novels, generally in a crime or police procedural frame, mix comedy, politics, social comment and action with a strong narrative. He has been referred to as a Tartan Noi ...
* ''
Rainbow Mars ''Rainbow Mars'' is a 1999 science fiction short story collection by American writer Larry Niven. It contains six stories of Hanville Svetz, five previously published and the longest, "Rainbow Mars", written for the collection. The setting of th ...
'' (1999), novel by
Larry Niven Laurence van Cott Niven (; born April 30, 1938) is an American science fiction writer. His 1970 novel ''Ringworld'' won the Hugo Award for Best Novel, Hugo, Locus Award, Locus, Ditmar Award, Ditmar, and Nebula Award for Best Novel, Nebula award ...
with 'beanstalks' on Mars and Earth * ''Running the Line - Stories of the Space Elevator'', edited by Brad Edwards and David Raitt. Published with Lulu, 2006. The book is a result of the 2nd Clarke-Bradbury International Science Fiction Competition organized by David Raitt of the European Space Agency's Technology Transfer and Promotion Office with the theme of Space Elevators. The competition generated 109 stories and images submitted from 29 different countries. The book contains 35 stories (including the winner and runner up plus three images (including winner and runner up). * ''
The Science of Discworld ''The Science of Discworld'' is a 1999 book by novelist Terry Pratchett and popular science writers (and University of Warwick science researchers) Ian Stewart and Jack Cohen. Three sequels, '' The Science of Discworld II: The Globe'', '' The S ...
'', by
Terry Pratchett Sir Terence David John Pratchett (28 April 1948 – 12 March 2015) was an English author, humorist, and Satire, satirist, best known for the ''Discworld'' series of 41 comic fantasy novels published between 1983 and 2015, and for the Apocalyp ...
, Jack Cohen and Ian Stewart, in which Roundworld humanity escapes to the stars via an elevator * '' Singularity's Ring'' (2008), novel by Paul Melko * ''
Songs of Distant Earth ''The Songs of Distant Earth'' is a 1986 science fiction novel by British writer Arthur C. Clarke, based upon his 1958 short story of the same title. Of all of his novels, Clarke stated that this was his favourite. Prior to the publishi ...
'' (1986), novel by
Arthur C. Clarke Sir Arthur Charles Clarke (16 December 191719 March 2008) was an English science fiction writer, science writer, futurist, inventor, undersea explorer, and television series host. Clarke co-wrote the screenplay for the 1968 film '' 2001: A ...
. The name 'space elevator' is not used in this book and the device used is not suitable for transporting humans. Instead, a kind of very strong cable is used to pull massive blocks of ice up to a spaceship in orbit around a fictitious planet from its surface * ''
Starclimber ''Starclimber'' is the third book in the ''Matt Cruse'' fantasy series, written by Canadian author Kenneth Oppel. Plot Matt Cruse is piloting an aerocrane for France's Celestial Tower where he narrowly survives a terrorist attack by the Babelit ...
'' (2008), novel by
Kenneth Oppel Kenneth Oppel (born August 31, 1967) is a Canadian children's writer. Biography Oppel was born in Port Alberni, and spent his childhood in Victoria, British Columbia and Halifax, Nova Scotia. He also lived in Newfoundland and Labrador, England, ...
. The main characters go to space using a space elevator. * ''
Strata In geology and related fields, a stratum (: strata) is a layer of Rock (geology), rock or sediment characterized by certain Lithology, lithologic properties or attributes that distinguish it from adjacent layers from which it is separated by v ...
'' (1981), one of
Terry Pratchett Sir Terence David John Pratchett (28 April 1948 – 12 March 2015) was an English author, humorist, and Satire, satirist, best known for the ''Discworld'' series of 41 comic fantasy novels published between 1983 and 2015, and for the Apocalyp ...
's two solely science-fiction novels * '' Sundiver'' (1980), novel by
David Brin Glen David Brin (born October 6, 1950) is an American science fiction author. He has won the Hugo Award, Hugo,
* '' Sunstorm'' (2005), novel by
Arthur C. Clarke Sir Arthur Charles Clarke (16 December 191719 March 2008) was an English science fiction writer, science writer, futurist, inventor, undersea explorer, and television series host. Clarke co-wrote the screenplay for the 1968 film '' 2001: A ...
and Stephen Baxter * "The Rope Is the World", short story by
China Miéville China Tom Miéville ( , born 6 September 1972) is a British speculative fiction writer and Literary criticism, literary critic. He often describes his work as "weird fiction", and is allied to the loosely associated movement of writers called ...
, included in the collection '' Three Moments of an Explosion: Stories''. Depicts the bleaker aspects of space elevators, as the novelty wears off and they become derelict. * ''Tour of the Universe'', novel by
Robert Holdstock Robert Paul Holdstock (2 August 1948 – 29 November 2009) was an English novelist and author best known for his works of Celtic, Nordic, Gothic and Pictish fantasy literature, predominantly in the fantasy subgenre of mythic fiction. Ho ...
and Malcolm Edwards * ''
The Web Between the Worlds ''The Web Between the Worlds'' is the second science fiction novel by Charles Sheffield. It was first published as a trade paperback by Ace Books in 1979, by the first UK edition in hardcover by Sidgwick & Jackson Ltd the following year. Furth ...
'' (1980), novel by
Charles Sheffield Charles Sheffield (25 June 1935 – 2 November 2002), was an English-born mathematician, physicist, and science-fiction writer who served as a President of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America and of the American Astronautical ...
* ''Zavtra Nastupit Vechnost'' (''Tomorrow The Eternity Will Come''), novel by Russian sci-fi writer
Alexander Gromov Alexander Nikolayevich Gromov () is a Russian science fiction writer, who began writing in 1986 and was first published in the early 1990s. His work is influenced by that of the Strugatsky brothers, and he has stated a preference for the soci ...
* ''Zmeyonysh'' (''Young Snake''), novella by the
Alexander Gromov Alexander Nikolayevich Gromov () is a Russian science fiction writer, who began writing in 1986 and was first published in the early 1990s. His work is influenced by that of the Strugatsky brothers, and he has stated a preference for the soci ...
*''Vertikala'' (''The Vertical'') (2006), novel by leading
Croatia Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central Europe, Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It borders Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herze ...
n science fiction writer Predrag Raos, who also filed the patent for his solution for "space lift"


Anime, comics, and manga

* ''
Air Gear is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Oh! great, serialized in Kodansha's manga magazine '' Weekly Shōnen Magazine'' from November 2002 to May 2012, with its chapters collected in 37 volumes. ''Air Gear'' revolves around ...
'', the space elevator appears in the manga chapter 333 know that the tower of babel it is mentioned that it is indeed a space elevator * ''
Battle Angel Alita ''Battle Angel Alita'', known in Japan as , is a Japanese cyberpunk manga series created by Yukito Kishiro and originally published in Shueisha's '' Business Jump'' magazine from 1990 to 1995. The second of the comic's nine volumes was a ...
'', the floating city of Tiphares/Zalem is actually the bottom end of one of two space elevators, each located on the opposite ends of the world and joined by an
orbital ring An orbital ring is a concept of an artificial ring placed around a body and set rotating at such a rate that the apparent centrifugal force is large enough to counteract the force of gravity. For the Earth, the required speed is on the order of ...
. Its sister city Ketheres/Jeru is at the opposite end of the elevator. * '' Biomega'', a manga series by
Tsutomu Nihei is a Japanese manga artist. Nihei has been drawing comics professionally since the mid-1990s. In 1995 he was awarded the Jiro Taniguchi Special Prize in that year's ''Afternoon'' Four Seasons Award for his submission, ''Blame''. After working ...
, features a space elevator referred to as the "Intercontinental Mooring Cable." * '' Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040'', anime series, contains a skyhook throughout the series. * '' Cannon God Exaxxion'' features a space elevator built on Earth using alien technology. * '' A Certain Magical Index: The Movie – The Miracle of Endymion'' features a space elevator called Endymion, based on the Greek mythology of the same name, where the main setting takes place. ** The film is adapted into a manga series, which also features the titular space elevator. * The third episode of ''
Cyber City Oedo 808 is a 1990 Japanese cyberpunk original video animation series created by Madhouse and directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri. Set in the year 2808 in the city of Oedo (Tokyo), it tells the story of three criminals who are enlisted into fighting crime ...
'' features a space elevator that criminal turned cop Benten rides to investigate a murder. * '' Dicebox'', web comic, ''Ch.5''. The space elevator, a shimmering thread against the sky, was "obsolete years before we were born", but still a tourist attraction. * ''
Dirty Pair is a series of Japanese light novels (the first one being a fix-up) written by Haruka Takachiho and illustrated by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko that was later adapted into anime and manga versions. The first stories that make up the first volume ...
'' "Project Eden", anime, a James Bond-like pre-title sequence is set in a climber-car on a space elevator, one such that leads to an orbital ring habitat about an unnamed planet. It and the ring are destroyed by the end of the heroines' visit (but not their fault!). * ''
Eureka Seven ''Eureka Seven'', known in Japan as , is a Japanese anime television series created and produced by Bones. The series was directed by Tomoki Kyoda, with series composition by Dai Satō, character designs by Kenichi Yoshida and ...
'' features a starship linked to the Earth's capital by a space elevator. * '' Hammer Locke'',
DC Comics DC Comics (originally DC Comics, Inc., and also known simply as DC) is an American comic book publisher owned by DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. DC is an initialism for "Detective Comics", an American comic book seri ...
limited series, features a space elevator under construction in mid-21st century Africa. * ''
Kiddy Grade ''Kiddy Grade'' () is a Japanese anime television series produced in 2002 and created by gímik and Gonzo Digimation and directed by Keiji Gotoh. The series is licensed and distributed in North America by FUNimation Entertainment ...
'', anime series, in which a space elevator combined with an
Orbital ring An orbital ring is a concept of an artificial ring placed around a body and set rotating at such a rate that the apparent centrifugal force is large enough to counteract the force of gravity. For the Earth, the required speed is on the order of ...
structure is used on most populated planets. * In '' Kurau: Phantom Memory'', space elevators are used as
spaceport A spaceport or cosmodrome is a site for launching or receiving spacecraft, by analogy to a seaport for ships or an airport for aircraft. The word ''spaceport''—and even more so ''cosmodrome''—has traditionally referred to sites capable of ...
s for easier traveling between the Earth and a full colonized Moon. * ''
Legend of the Galactic Heroes , sometimes abbreviated as ''LOTGH'', ''LOGH'', ''LGH'' or in Japanese (and also depicted as ''Heldensagen vom Kosmosinsel'' in the anime intro), is a series of Epic (genre), epic science fiction novels written by Yoshiki Tanak ...
'' anime series depicts a space elevator on the planet Phezzan. * In ''
Mobile Suit Gundam 00 is a Japanese anime television series, the eleventh installment in Sunrise studio's long-running ''Gundam'' franchise comprising two seasons. The series is set on a futuristic Earth and is centered on the exploits of the fictional paramilit ...
'', all the
superpower Superpower describes a sovereign state or supranational union that holds a dominant position characterized by the ability to Sphere of influence, exert influence and Power projection, project power on a global scale. This is done through the comb ...
s have a space elevator (Permanent Orbital Station) of their own, linked to a
Solar Power Satellite Space-based solar power (SBSP or SSP) is the concept of collecting solar power in outer space with solar power satellites (SPS) and distributing it to Earth. Its advantages include a higher collection of energy due to the lack of reflection ...
array used to harness
solar energy Solar energy is the radiant energy from the Sun's sunlight, light and heat, which can be harnessed using a range of technologies such as solar electricity, solar thermal energy (including solar water heating) and solar architecture. It is a ...
for their use. Each elevator has two orbital stations: the lower orbital station functions as a spaceport and tourist attraction while the high orbital station houses the elevator's control facilities and provides physical access to the solar array. The partial destruction of the Africa elevator in the second season reveals that the elevators have
ablative armor Ablative armor is armor which prevents damage through the process of ablation, the removal of material from the surface of an object by vaporization, chipping, or other erosive processes. In contemporary spacecraft, ablative plating is most fre ...
plates for protection against debris; purging these plates require the technical crew to jettison the counterweight at the orbital end in order to avoid the now-unbalanced elevator's complete destruction. They play a critical plot role in
power balance Power Balance is the original brand of hologram bracelets claimed by its manufacturers and vendors to use "holographic technology" to "resonate with and respond to the natural energy field of the body" to increase athletic performance. Numerous ...
and maintaining
spheres of influence In the field of international relations, a sphere of influence (SOI) is a spatial region or concept division over which a state or organization has a level of cultural, economic, military, or political exclusivity. While there may be a formal a ...
by denying electricity to
rogue state "Rogue state" (or sometimes "outlaw state") is a term applied by some international theorists to states that they consider threatening to the world's peace. These states meet certain criteria, such as being ruled by authoritarian or totalitaria ...
s. * ''
Nemesis the Warlock ''Nemesis the Warlock'' is a comic series created by writer Pat Mills and artist Kevin O'Neill which appeared in the pages of the British weekly comics anthology '' 2000 AD''. The title character, a fire-breathing demonic alien, fights agai ...
'',
comic strip A comic strip is a Comics, sequence of cartoons, arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, often Serial (literature), serialized, with text in Speech balloon, balloons and Glossary of comics terminology#Captio ...
by
Pat Mills Patrick Eamon Mills (born 1949) is an English comics writer and editor who, along with John Wagner, revitalised British boys' comics in the 1970s, and has remained a leading light in British comics ever since. He has been called "the godfath ...
, book 4 ''The Gothic Empire''. * ''
Outlaw Star is a media franchise#Japan, Japanese media mix primarily consisting of an anime Television show, television series produced by Sunrise (now a division of Bandai Namco Filmworks) and a corresponding Seinen manga, ''seinen'' manga series w ...
'', anime series, episode 14 ''"Final Countdown"'', features the problem of a falling elevator due to a terrorist attack. * ''RIXA'', Indonesian comic book series, features a rescue mission on ''Konstantin Space Elevator'' (tribute to astronautic theorist ''
Konstantin Tsiolkovsky Konstantin Eduardovich Tsiolkovsky (; rus, Константин Эдуардович Циолковский, p=kənstɐnʲˈtʲin ɪdʊˈardəvʲɪtɕ tsɨɐlˈkofskʲɪj, a=Ru-Konstantin Tsiolkovsky.oga; – 19 September 1935) was a Russi ...
'') after a terrorist remote hijack that caused the climber car to malfunction and trapping three Japanese astronauts on 750 km altitude. The space elevator also host an "Interdimensional Portal" on the space station tethered on top. * ''
Starship Operators is a Japanese light novel series written by Ryo Mizuno. Six volumes were published by MediaWorks (now ASCII Media Works) between 2001 and 2005. An anime television series adaptation animated by J.C.Staff aired on TV Tokyo from January to ...
'', anime series, episode 5 ''Great Escape'', briefly depicts an orbital elevator ride on a fictitious planet. * ''
The Super Dimension Century Orguss is an anime science fiction series. It inspired an Original Video Animation, OVA sequel series called ''Orguss 02''. ''Orguss'' was the second part of ''The Super Dimension (disambiguation), Super Dimension'' trilogy from Big West Advertising ...
'' (1983) anime television series features a conflict over a space elevator. * ''
Tekkaman Blade is a 1992 Japanese anime television series produced by Tatsunoko Production and Sotsu Agency. The series was directed by Hiroshi Negishi and written by Mayori Sekijima and Satoru Akahori. The story follows an organization called the S ...
'', anime series, depicts six "orbital elevators" located throughout Earth and locked in space by an
orbital ring An orbital ring is a concept of an artificial ring placed around a body and set rotating at such a rate that the apparent centrifugal force is large enough to counteract the force of gravity. For the Earth, the required speed is on the order of ...
structure. Every episode deals with the space elevators. * The 2019 comic reboot of ''
Transformers ''Transformers'' is a media franchise produced by American toy company Hasbro and Japanese toy company Tomy, Takara Tomy. It primarily follows the heroic Autobots and the villainous Decepticons, two Extraterrestrials in fiction, alien robot fac ...
'' features a space elevator called the Tether, connecting the planet Cybertron to a geoengineered planetoid called the Winged Moon. The
Decepticon The Decepticons are a fictional faction of sentient robots in the ''Transformers'' multimedia franchise. Serving as the main antagonists in the franchise, their goals include conquering their fictional homeworld planet Cybertron, defeating ...
s eventually collapse the Tether, and its fall wraps it around the planet and causes great damage in the process. * ''
Turn A Gundam , also stylized as ''∀ Gundam'', is a 1999 Japanese mecha anime series produced by Sunrise (company), Sunrise, and aired between 1999 and 2000 on Fuji Television and other Fuji Network System, FNS stations. It was created for the ''Gunda ...
'', anime series, depicts an ancient hypersonic skyhook which has been maintained operationally by
nanomachines Molecular machines are a class of molecules typically described as an assembly of a discrete number of molecular components intended to produce mechanical movements in response to specific stimuli, mimicking macromolecular devices such as switch ...
over thousands of years. An ancient
mass driver A mass driver or electromagnetic catapult is a proposed method of non-rocket spacelaunch which would use a linear motor to Acceleration, accelerate and catapult Payload (air and space craft), payloads up to high speeds. Existing and proposed mass ...
is also used for transporting space-vessels from earth's surface to the skyhook. * '' Z.O.E. Dolores, I'', anime series, contains an orbital elevator early in the series, and then is the focus of the end, where someone is trying to destroy the counterweights to make the elevator collapse. Intriguing use of emergency counterweights depicted. * ''
Gundam Reconguista in G , also referred to as , is a 2014 Japanese science fiction anime television series and the thirteenth installment in Sunrise's long-running ''Gundam'' franchise. Created for the Gundam 35th Anniversary celebration, it is the first ''Gundam ...
'' is a ''Gundam'' mecha anime television series (2014-2015) with the plot centering on an advanced space elevator.


Games

* ''
2300 AD ''2300 AD'', originally titled ''Traveller: 2300'', is a tabletop science fiction role-playing game created by Game Designers' Workshop (GDW) and first published in 1986. Publication history GDW created the popular science fiction role-playi ...
'', role-playing game by
Game Designers' Workshop Game Designers' Workshop (GDW) was a Board wargame, wargame and role-playing game publisher from 1973 to 1996. Many of their games are now carried by other publishers. History Game Designers' Workshop was originally established June 22, 1973. ...
. * ''
Apex Legends ''Apex Legends'' is a 2019 Battle royale game, battle royale-hero shooter video game developed by Respawn Entertainment and published by Electronic Arts, set in the same science fiction universe as Respawn's ''Titanfall'' series. It is offered ...
'', Multiplayer Battle Royale game developed by Respawn entertainment features a Space elevator named the Sky-Hook on its map 'Worlds Edge'. * '' Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown'', a Bandai Namco game, features the International Space Elevator (ISEV). Also known as Lighthouse. * The '' Android'' detective board game includes a space elevator. * The player in ''
ANNO 2205 ''Anno 2205'' is a city-building and economic simulation game, with real-time strategy elements, developed by Blue Byte and published by Ubisoft. ''Anno'' ''2205'' is the sixth game of the ''Anno'' series, and was released worldwide on 3 Nove ...
'' is tasked with leading their corporation to construct a space elevator in order to facilitate lunar colonization and mining of Helium-3 * From Software's ''
Armored Core 2 ''Armored Core 2'' is a 2000 third-person shooter mecha video game developed by FromSoftware for the PlayStation 2. It is the fourth entry in the ''Armored Core'' series and an indirect sequel to '' Armored Core: Master of Arena''. In North Ameri ...
'' and '' Armored Core 2: Another Age'' feature space elevators named "
Rapture The Rapture is an Christian eschatology, eschatological position held by some Christians, particularly those of American evangelicalism, consisting of an end-time event when all dead Christian believers will be resurrected and, joined with Chr ...
" above both
Earth Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to Planetary habitability, harbor life. This is enabled by Earth being an ocean world, the only one in the Solar System sustaining liquid surface water. Almost all ...
and
Mars Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun. It is also known as the "Red Planet", because of its orange-red appearance. Mars is a desert-like rocky planet with a tenuous carbon dioxide () atmosphere. At the average surface level the atmosph ...
. * '' Before The Green Moon'', farming-sim game by Turnfollow. * '' Blue Planet'' featured a space elevator located in Ecuador that is destroyed by terrorists during the dark years of the Blight. * '' Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare'' features a space elevator in the multiplayer map Ascend. * '' Cities: Skylines'' features a space elevator as one of the wonders the player can construct. It is used to increase tourism to the city. Oddly, the in-game model lacks a tether. * '' Civilization: Call to Power'' and ''
Sid Meier's Civilization IV ''Civilization IV'' (also known as ''Sid Meier's Civilization IV'') is a 2005 4X turn-based strategy video game developed by Firaxis Games and published by 2K (company), 2K. It is the fourth installment of the Civilization (series), ''Civilizatio ...
'',
strategy Strategy (from Greek στρατηγία ''stratēgia'', "troop leadership; office of general, command, generalship") is a general plan to achieve one or more long-term or overall goals under conditions of uncertainty. In the sense of the " a ...
video game A video game or computer game is an electronic game that involves interaction with a user interface or input device (such as a joystick, game controller, controller, computer keyboard, keyboard, or motion sensing device) to generate visual fe ...
, as a Wonder of the World. * '' Contra: Hard Corps,'' Colonel Bahamut takes the Alien Cell to the top of his personal Space Elevator with plans of using its power for world domination. * ''
Eclipse Phase ''Eclipse Phase'' is a science fiction horror role-playing game with Transhumanism, transhumanist themes. It was originally published by Catalyst Game Labs, and is now published by the game's creators, Posthuman Studios, and is released under a ...
,'' some space elevators had been built from earth to the orbit or space stations, but except one were destroyed during a war between man and machine. * ''
Freelancer ''Freelance'' (sometimes spelled ''free-lance'' or ''free lance''), ''freelancer'', or ''freelance worker'', are terms commonly used for a person who is self-employed and not necessarily committed to a particular employer long-term. Freelance w ...
,'' a space elevator transports small ships from orbit to the surface of planets. * The video game '' Final Star Force'' includes a stage with a space elevator. * '' Front Mission: Gun Hazard'', video game by
Square In geometry, a square is a regular polygon, regular quadrilateral. It has four straight sides of equal length and four equal angles. Squares are special cases of rectangles, which have four equal angles, and of rhombuses, which have four equal si ...
, features the Orbital Elevator "A.T.L.A.S.". * ''
Front Mission Evolved is a third-person shooter video game developed by Double Helix Games and published by Square Enix. Unlike previous ''Front Mission'' titles which have a tactical role-playing game structure, players engage in combat in real time on 3D maps using ...
'', a videogame by
Square Enix is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational holding company, video game publisher and entertainment conglomerate. It releases role-playing video game, role-playing game franchises, such as ''Final Fantasy'', ''Dragon Quest'', and '' ...
, features an Orbital Elevator. * ''
F-Zero GX ''F-Zero GX'' is a 2003 racing game developed by Amusement Vision, a division of Sega, and published by Nintendo for the GameCube. It runs on an enhanced version of the game engine used in ''Super Monkey Ball'' (2001). Sega also released an arca ...
'', futuristic racing game, has a course called Cosmo Terminal: Trident which is set inside an interplanetary space elevator several hundred kilometers wide bound for Zero Station. During the final lap it reaches its destination and stops. * ''
Halo 2 ''Halo 2'' is a 2004 first-person shooter video game developed by Bungie and published by Microsoft Game Studios for the Xbox console. ''Halo 2'' is the second installment in the ''Halo'' franchise and the sequel to 2001's critically acclai ...
'', ''
Halo 3 ''Halo 3'' is a 2007 first-person shooter video game developed by Bungie for the Xbox 360 console. The third installment in the ''Halo'' franchise following '' Halo: Combat Evolved'' (2001) and ''Halo 2'' (2004), the game's story centers on th ...
'', and '' Halo 3: ODST'' video games by
Bungie Bungie, Inc. is an American video game company based in Bellevue, Washington, and a subsidiary of Sony Interactive Entertainment. The company was established in May 1991 by Alex Seropian, who later brought in programmer Jason Jones (programme ...
, depict a space elevator in New Mombasa,
Kenya Kenya, officially the Republic of Kenya, is a country located in East Africa. With an estimated population of more than 52.4 million as of mid-2024, Kenya is the 27th-most-populous country in the world and the 7th most populous in Africa. ...
in the year 2552. The elevator is toppled during the Battle of Earth in ''Halo 2/Halo 3: ODST,'' and its ruins are encountered during operations in the Battle of Voi in ''Halo 3.'' The Halo 3'' Multiplayer Map "Orbital" also depicts a space elevator over Quito, Ecuador. '' Halo: Reach'' depicts three slightly different orbital elevators in the distance of the city 'New Alexandria' on the human colony Reach, but they aren't accessible in the game. '' Halo 5'' features a space elevator on another planet as a location during the elevator's destruction. ''
Halo Infinite ''Halo Infinite'' is a 2021 first-person shooter video game developed by 343 Industries and published by Xbox Game Studios. It is the sixth mainline installment in the ''Halo'' series, following '' Halo 5: Guardians'' (2015). The game's campa ...
'' depicts a space elevator in the background of the multiplayer map Bazaar, which also takes place in New Mombasa as it is being rebuilt after the events of the original trilogy. * ''
Killzone 3 ''Killzone 3'' is a 2011 first-person shooter video game for the PlayStation 3, developed by Guerrilla Games and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. It is the fourth installment in the ''Killzone'' series, the first game in the series to ...
'', a first person shooter by
Guerrilla Games Guerrilla B.V. (trade name: Guerrilla Games) is a Dutch First-party developer, first-party video game developer based in Amsterdam and part of PlayStation Studios. The company was founded as Lost Boys Games in January 2000 through the merger of ...
, depict a space elevator on the planet of Helghan. The protagonists use it to stop the Helghast fleet from destroying Earth. * ''
Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri ''Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri'' is a 4X video game, considered a spiritual sequel to the ''Civilization'' series. Set in a science fiction depiction of the 22nd century, the game begins as seven competing ideological factions land on the plane ...
'',
strategy Strategy (from Greek στρατηγία ''stratēgia'', "troop leadership; office of general, command, generalship") is a general plan to achieve one or more long-term or overall goals under conditions of uncertainty. In the sense of the " a ...
video game A video game or computer game is an electronic game that involves interaction with a user interface or input device (such as a joystick, game controller, controller, computer keyboard, keyboard, or motion sensing device) to generate visual fe ...
, allows players to build a "Secret Project" entitled the "Space Elevator". * ''
Sonic Colors (known as ''Sonic Colours'' in PAL regions) is a 2010 platform game developed by Sonic Team and published by Sega. It follows Sonic the Hedgehog (character), Sonic's quest to stop his nemesis Doctor Eggman from enslaving an alien race and tak ...
'', Platformer by Sega. Dr. Eggman creates an orbital elevator which reaches out to a giant intergalactic amusement park consisting of a spherical main body with several planet-sized attractions tethered to it via giant energy chains. * ''
Syndicate Wars ''Syndicate Wars'' is an isometric real-time tactical and strategic game, developed by Bullfrog Productions and published by Electronic Arts. It was released for DOS in 1996 and for the PlayStation in 1997. It is the second video game title in t ...
'', a videogame by
Bullfrog Productions Bullfrog Productions Limited was a British video game developer based in Guildford, England. Founded in 1987 by Peter Molyneux and Les Edgar, the company gained recognition in 1989 for their third release, ''Populous (video game), Populous'', ...
, featured an "orbital elevator" which was actually a lunar space elevator. * '' The Moment of Silence'', an
adventure An adventure is an exciting experience or undertaking that is typically bold, sometimes risky. Adventures may be activities with danger such as traveling, exploring, skydiving, mountain climbing, scuba diving, river rafting, or other extreme spo ...
video game A video game or computer game is an electronic game that involves interaction with a user interface or input device (such as a joystick, game controller, controller, computer keyboard, keyboard, or motion sensing device) to generate visual fe ...
by ''The Adventure Company'', lets you ride a space elevator based in
New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
* ''
Transhuman Space ''Transhuman Space'' (THS) is a role-playing game by David Pulver, published by Steve Jackson Games as part of the "Powered by ''GURPS''" (''Generic Universal Role-Playing System'') line. Set in the year 2100, humanity has begun to colonize the ...
'', role-playing game by Steve Jackson Games. In this setting, a first space elevator had been built on Mars and the second one, on Earth, is on the way. * '' Martian Rails'', a crayon rail system game by
Mayfair Games Mayfair Games was an American publisher of board game, board, card game, card, and roleplaying games that also licensed German-style board game, Euro-style board games to publish them in English. The company licensed worldwide English-language pub ...
pays tribute to the Mars Trilogy with a "Cable Breaks" event that destroys everything on the equator. * ''
Mega Man X8 ''Mega Man X8'', known as in Japan, is a 2004 action game, action-platformer, platform game developed by Capcom for the PlayStation 2. It is the eighth game in the ''Mega Man X'' series. It was first released in North America on December 7, 2004 ...
'', Action game by Capcom. An Orbital Elevator known as "Jakob" is used to transport Reploids and materials to the moon to prepare it for colonization, and is at the center of the game's conflict. * ''
Mega Man X Command Mission ''Mega Man X: Command Mission'', known in Japan as , is a 2004 role-playing video game developed by Capcom for the PlayStation 2 and GameCube. The game is a spin-off of the ''Mega Man X'' franchise. It was released in Japan on July 29, 2004, with ...
'', RPG by Capcom. The final moments of the game before the final boss' final form takes place in an Orbital Elevator named "Babel" * ''
Mega Man Zero is an action game, action-platformer, platform game series in Capcom's ''Mega Man'' video game franchise. It was developed by Inti Creates, with Co-Producer Keiji Inafune and Director Yoshinori Kawano. The series consists of four games that were ...
'' series, Action game by Capcom. In the series, all important Government locations are sited atop orbital elevators in stationary satellites, and multiple elevators can be seen from the elevator Area X-ll in
Mega Man Zero 3 ''Mega Man Zero 3'' is a 2004 action-platform game developed by Inti Creates and published by Capcom for the Game Boy Advance (GBA) handheld game console. It is the third video game in the '' Mega Man Zero'' series of '' Mega Man'' video games. ...
. The Neo Arcadia Tower present in the first game is also the remains of an elevator damaged in the wars past, hollowed out and laid with traps to foil intruders. * '' Independence War'' or I-War, a space simulation game by
Particle Systems Argonaut Sheffield (formerly Particle Systems Ltd.) was a British video game developer based in Sheffield, England. The company was founded as Particle Systems by Glyn Williams and Michael Powell. Games developed by Particle Systems include '' ...
A multiple tether space elevator is shown in the introduction movie when President King is transported into space aboard a crawler. *
Bandai Namco Entertainment is a Japanese multinational corporation, multinational video game video game publisher, publisher, and the video game branch of the wider Bandai Namco Holdings group. Founded in 2006 as it is the successor to Namco's home and arcade video game ...
's
role-playing video game Role-playing video games, also known as CRPG (computer/console role-playing games), comprise a broad video game genre generally defined by a detailed story and character advancement (often through increasing characters' levels or other skills) ...
series ''
Xenosaga ''Xenosaga'' is a role-playing video game series developed by Monolith Soft and primarily published by Namco. Forming part of the wider ''Xeno (series), Xeno'' metaseries, ''Xenosaga'' is set in a science fiction universe and follows a group of ch ...
'' features a gigantic space station in orbit above Federation capital planet of Fifth Jerusalem. '' Episode III'' reveals that the station is tethered to the ground by a space elevator. * The space elevator "Babel" appears in ''
Battle Clash ''Battle Clash'' is a 1992 light gun shooter video game developed by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It is one of several titles that requires the Super Scope light gun. Set in a futuri ...
'' and its sequel as the last great construction project completed before the apocalypse, and serves as the only surviving route to outer space. * ''
Street Fighter X Tekken (pronounced "Street Fighter Cross Tekken") is a 2012 crossover fighting video game published by Capcom, who developed with Dimps, for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation Vita, and with QLOC for Windows. The game features characters fro ...
'' and ''
Ultra Street Fighter IV is a 2008 fighting game developed by Capcom and Dimps and published by Capcom. It was the first original main entry in the series since ''Street Fighter III'' in 1997, a hiatus of eleven years. Designed for the Taito Type X2 Arcade video game, a ...
'' feature a space elevator as one of the stages, referred to as "Cosmic Elevator." * In ''
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 ''Xenoblade Chronicles 2'' is a 2017 action role-playing game developed by Monolith Soft and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. It is the third installment in the '' Xenoblade Chronicles'' series and the sixth main entry in the ''X ...
'', the final chapter of the game takes place in a space station called Rhadamanthus, high above the World Tree, a landmark object on the planet on which the game is set. It is revealed through the course of events in the game that the World Tree, initially thought to be a giant tree, is actually a space elevator constructed by the advanced human civilization that came before those of the protagonists. The civilization was destroyed by Klaus' conduit experiment when it created the first Xenoblade Chronicles universe and sent Klaus' left half to that universe, leaving his right half on Earth, as the new God/Architect orbiting the Earth on board the Rhadamanthus on top of the World Tree. It is also implied/revealed that the planet the game takes place on is actually Earth. At the end of the game, the World Tree space elevator along with the Rhadamanthus station orbiting above are destroyed. * ''
Satisfactory ''Satisfactory'' is a 2024 factory simulation game by Coffee Stain Studios for Windows. The player (a "Pioneer") is dropped onto an alien planet with a handful of tools and must use the planet's natural resources to construct increasingly compl ...
'', a factory game by
Coffee Stain Studios Coffee Stain Studios AB is a Swedish video game developer based in Skövde. Founded in 2010 by nine University of Skövde students, the company is best known for ''Goat Simulator,'' which was released in April 2014, and ''Satisfactory'', releas ...
Features a Space Elevator related to the game-end objective, "Project Assembly". Sending required resources up the space elevator unlocks a new technology tier, and is used to progress in the game. * ''
Surviving Mars ''Surviving Mars'' is a city building survival video game initially developed by the Bulgarian studio Haemimont Games, and later by Abstraction Games, and published by Paradox Interactive. It was released on Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, P ...
'', a city-building game by
Haemimont Games Haemimont Games AD is a Bulgarian video game developer founded by Gabriel Dobrev in September 1997 and based in Sofia. The company primarily focuses on producing Simulation video game, simulation, City-Building Game, city-building and ancient hi ...
, lets you construct a Space Elevator which makes resupplying and exporting materials cheaper and faster than a rocket.


Movies and TV series

* '' Kaena: The Prophecy'', a CG movie featuring an orbital "tree" comparable with a space elevator. * ''
Kamen Rider Kabuto is a Japanese tokusatsu superhero television series. It is the sixteenth installment in the popular Kamen Rider Series of tokusatsu programs. It is a joint collaboration between Asatsu-DK and Toei. The series was broadcast on TV Asahi. The ...
'' Movie God Speed Love * ''
Mystery Science Theater 3000 ''Mystery Science Theater 3000'' (abbreviated as ''MST3K'') is an American science fiction comedy television series created by Joel Hodgson. The show premiered on WUCW, KTMA-TV (now WUCW) in Saint Paul, Minnesota, on November 24, 1988. It then ...
'',
television series A television show, TV program (), or simply a TV show, is the general reference to any content produced for viewing on a television set that is broadcast via over-the-air, satellite, and cable, or distributed digitally on streaming plat ...
, Dr. Clayton Forrester attaches a tether to the Satellite of Love called the "Umbilicus", turning the SOL into a space elevator. In subsequent episodes, experiments would be sent up the umbilicus for the show's weekly "Invention exchange" skit. It is suggested that the Umbilicus is an extension of
Gypsy {{Infobox ethnic group , group = Romani people , image = , image_caption = , flag = Roma flag.svg , flag_caption = Romani flag created in 1933 and accepted at the 1971 World Romani Congress , po ...
's hoselike body. * '' Star Trek: Voyager'', episode "
Rise Rise or RISE may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Fictional entities * '' Rise: The Vieneo Province'', an internet-based virtual world * Rise FM, a fictional radio station in the video game ''Grand Theft Auto 3'' * Rise Kujikawa, a vide ...
" * In ''
Doctor Who ''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series, created by Sydney Newman, C. E. Webber and Donald Wilson (writer and producer), Donald Wilson, depicts the adventures of an extraterre ...
'', "
The Waters of Mars "The Waters of Mars" is the second of four hour-long specials of the British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who'', all serving as David Tennant's final episodes as the Tenth Doctor. As with the previous special, " Planet of the Dead ...
" it is mentioned by Ed Gold ( Peter O'Brian) the second-in-command to Adelaide Brook (
Lindsay Duncan Lindsay Vere Duncan (born 7 November 1950) is a Scottish actress. She is the recipient of three BAFTA nominations and one Scottish BAFTA nomination, as well as two Olivier Awards and a Tony Award for her work on stage. She has starred in sever ...
), that a space elevator was constructed off the coast of
Western Australia Western Australia (WA) is the westernmost state of Australia. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east, and South Australia to the south-east. Western Aust ...
in the year 2044. * In '' Mr. Nobody'' people descend to the surface of
Mars Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun. It is also known as the "Red Planet", because of its orange-red appearance. Mars is a desert-like rocky planet with a tenuous carbon dioxide () atmosphere. At the average surface level the atmosph ...
from a docked spaceship via space elevator. * In the animated television show ''
Generator Rex ''Generator Rex'' is an American animated superhero television series created by Man of Action for Cartoon Network, with John Fang of Cartoon Network Studios as supervising producer. It is based on the comic '' M. Rex'', created by Aaron Sowd, ...
'' the international organization Providience has constructed a space elevator. * In '' Halo 4: "Forward Unto Dawn"'', the Corbulo Academy of Military Science on Circinius IV had an orbital space elevator in the middle of the academy. The elevator was destroyed by the Covenant during the opening moments of the Battle of Circinius IV while the academy was in evacuation, killing everyone on the elevator so far. *
Payload
' - a short film about scavengers set in a space elevator town. Written and directed by Stuart Willis, produced by Tom Bicknell in 2011. *In the TV series ''Foundation'', the planet
Trantor The ''Foundation'' universe is the future history of humanity's colonization of the galaxy, spanning nearly 25,000 years, created through the gradual fusion of the ''Robot'', '' Galactic Empire'', and '' Foundation'' book series written by America ...
has a space elevator called “Starbridge”, which is destroyed by terrorists in the opening episode “The Emperor’s Peace”. *In "
The Wandering Earth 2 ''The Wandering Earth 2'' () is a 2023 Chinese science fiction action-adventure film directed and co-written by Frant Gwo, and starring Andy Lau, Wu Jing and Li Xuejian. The film is a prequel to the 2019 film ''The Wandering Earth'', which is ...
", in response to the solar crisis, UEG built a space elevator in Libreville, Gabon, to build the "Ark Space Station" and deliver materials for the "Exile Moon Project". In 2044, it was attacked by digital life terrorists, causing the Ark Space Station to crash. *In ''Previously Saved Version'', movie, year 2200, there are two space elevators shown. In beginning of movie, one is shown, and near end of movie, two are shown. Appears to be primarily for transport of goods from Earth to a space station and beyond, although it seems humans can be on board the transports also.


Others

*
Globus Cassus Globus Cassus is an art project and book by Swiss architect and artist Christian Waldvogel presenting a conceptual transformation of planet Earth into a much bigger, hollow, artificial world with an ecosphere on its inner surface. It was the S ...
, a proposed
Terraforming Terraforming or terraformation ("Earth-shaping") is the hypothetical process of deliberately modifying the atmosphere, temperature, surface topography or ecology of a planet, moon, or other body to be similar to the environment of Earth to mak ...
project that uses four space elevators during its construction. * '' Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire'', a multimedia project, features a skyhook in orbit around
Coruscant Coruscant () is an ecumenopolis planet in the fictional universe of ''Star Wars.'' It was first described in Timothy Zahn's 1991 novel '' Heir to the Empire.'' The planet made its first on-screen appearance in a scene added to '' Return of t ...
. More such skyhooks are mentioned in other ''Star Wars'' stories. *In the
GURPS The ''Generic Universal Role Playing System'', or ''GURPS'', is a tabletop role-playing game system published by Steve Jackson Games. The system is designed to run any genre using the same core mechanics. The core rules were first written by St ...
Transhuman Space ''Transhuman Space'' (THS) is a role-playing game by David Pulver, published by Steve Jackson Games as part of the "Powered by ''GURPS''" (''Generic Universal Role-Playing System'') line. Set in the year 2100, humanity has begun to colonize the ...
role-playing game source book about Mars in the year 2100
''In The Well''
they have placed a completed orbital elevator (Beanstalk) on
Pavonis Mons Pavonis Mons (Latin for "peacock mountain") is a large shield volcano located in the Tharsis region of the planet Mars. It is the middle member of a chain of three volcanic mountains (collectively known as the Tharsis Montes) that straddle the ...
, linked to
Deimos Deimos, a Greek word for ''dread'', may refer to: In general * Deimos (deity), one of the sons of Ares and Aphrodite in Greek mythology * Deimos (moon), the smaller and outermost of Mars' two natural satellites Fictional characters * Deimos (comi ...
. There is also a beanstalk beginning construction on
Mount Kenya Mount Kenya (Meru people, Meru: ''Kĩrĩmaara,'' Kikuyu people, Kikuyu: ''Kĩrĩnyaga'', Kamba language, Kamba: ''Ki nyaa'', Embu language, Embu: ''Kĩ nyaga'') is an extinct volcano in Kenya and the Highest mountain peaks of Africa, second-highe ...
. *The board game, '' Buck Rogers - Battle for the 25th Century'' (1988) featured a space elevator connecting the Mars territory of Pavonis to the Far Mars Orbit and the moon, Deimus. * ''
Jovian Chronicles ''Jovian Chronicles'' is a science fiction game setting published by Dream Pod 9 since 1997. It introduces a complete universe for role-playing and wargaming space combat featuring mecha, giant spacecraft, and epic space battles. The ''Jovian C ...
'', a
Role-playing game A role-playing game (sometimes spelled roleplaying game, or abbreviated as RPG) is a game in which players assume the roles of player character, characters in a fictional Setting (narrative), setting. Players take responsibility for acting out ...
by Dream Pod 9, includes the wreckage of a Martian space elevator. The elevator was destroyed by terrorists in the published scenario included with the original release of the setting. The wreckage created the "'Vator Crater", a long canyon running along the Martian equator. * Space 220, a restaurant at the Mission: SPACE pavilion at
Walt Disney World The Walt Disney World Resort is an destination resort, entertainment resort complex located about southwest of Orlando, Florida, United States. Opened on October 1, 1971, the resort is operated by Disney Experiences, a division of the Wa ...
's Epcot, features the Stellarvator, a simulated space elevator ride taking guests from the park to the orbiting Centauri Space Station the restaurant is located in.


See also

* Lunar space elevator for the moon variant * Space elevator construction discusses alternative construction methods of a space elevator. * Space elevator economics discusses capital and maintenance costs of a space elevator. *
Space elevator safety There are risks associated with never-done-before technologies like the construction and operation of a space elevator. A space elevator would present a navigational hazard, both to aircraft and spacecraft. Aircraft could be dealt with by means o ...
discusses safety aspects of space elevator construction and operation. *
Launch loop A launch loop, or Lofstrom loop, is a proposed system for launching objects into orbit using a moving cable-like system situated inside a sheath attached to the Earth at two ends and suspended above the atmosphere in the middle. The design conce ...
- a hypervelocity belt system that forms a launch track at 80 km *
Lightcraft The Lightcraft is a space- or air-vehicle driven by beam-powered propulsion, the energy source powering the craft being external. It was conceptualized by aerospace engineering professor Leik Myrabo at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1976, ...
- an alternative method for moving materials or people *
Space gun A space gun, sometimes called a Verne gun because of its appearance in ''From the Earth to the Moon'' by Jules Verne, is a method of launching an object into space using a large gun- or cannon-like structure. Space guns could thus potentially pr ...
- a method for launching materials *
Space fountain A space fountain is a proposed form of an extremely tall tower extending into space. As known materials cannot support a static tower with this height, a space fountain has to be an active structure: A stream of pellets is accelerated upwards ...
- very tall structures using fast moving masses to hold it up *
Space tether Space tethers are long cables which can be used for propulsion, momentum exchange, stabilization and attitude control, or maintaining the relative positions of the components of a large dispersed satellite/spacecraft sensor system. Depending on ...
- methods using long boluses *
Non-rocket spacelaunch Non-rocket spacelaunch refers to theoretical concepts for launch into space where much of the speed and altitude needed to achieve orbit is provided by a propulsion technique that is not subject to the limits of the rocket equation. Although al ...


References


Further reading

* * * * {{Space elevator
Elevators An elevator (American English) or lift (English in the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth English) is a machine that vertically transports people or freight between levels. They are typically powered by electric motors that drive tracti ...
Fiction Fiction is any creative work, chiefly any narrative work, portraying character (arts), individuals, events, or setting (narrative), places that are imagination, imaginary or in ways that are imaginary. Fictional portrayals are thus inconsistent ...
Fiction about transport Works set in elevators