Explore the real economics of building and operating a space elevator—from ship-launched ribbons to megaton climbers—and how this infrastructure could change the world.

Watch my exclusive video Fishbowl Starships - Water As Shielding - https://nebula.tv/videos/isaacarthur-fishbowl-starships-water-as-shielding

Get Nebula using my link for 40% off an annual subscription: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthur

Get a Lifetime Membership to Nebula for only $300: https://go.nebula.tv/lifetime?ref=isaacarthur

Use the link gift.nebula.tv/isaacarthur to give a year of Nebula to a friend for just $30.

Visit our Website: http://www.isaacarthur.net

Join Nebula: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthur

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IsaacArthur

Support us on Subscribestar: https://www.subscribestar.com/isaac-arthur

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583992725237264/

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/IsaacArthur/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Isaac_A_Arthur on Twitter and RT our future content.

SFIA Discord Server: https://discord.gg/53GAShE

Credits:

Space Elevator Economics: Building And Operating A Superhighway To Space 

Episode 726; June 19, 2025

Written, Produced & Narrated by: Isaac Arthur

Edited by:

Adrian Nixon

Ludwig Luska

Peter Swan

Graphics:

Anthrofuturism

Atlantis Project

Katie Byrne

Phil Swan

Sergio Botero

Udo Schroeter

Select imagery/video supplied by Getty Images 

Music Courtesy of Epidemic Sound http://epidemicsound.com/creator

Chris Zabriskie, "Unfoldment, Revealment", "A New Day in a New Sector"

Aerium, "Deijocht"

Stellardrone, "Red Giant", "Billions and Billions"

Lombus, "Hydrogen Sonata", "Cosmic Soup"

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.