12 teams presented their space elevator concepts this weekend at NASA's Ames Research Center in Mountain View, CA. Though the teams were only showing off 200 ft. high demos, the ultimate goal is to create a lightweight nanotube tether that will stretch more than 62,000 miles into space, carrying both people and cargo. Sponsored by the Spaceward Foundation (Elevator2010.org(1)), modest cash prizes are being given to the winners of beam and tether challenges. Read more at MSNBC.com(2).
Graphic: Artist Conception,Elevator2010.org

1. http://www.elevator2010.org/site/index.html
2. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9763307