Japanese company plans space elevator "up" and running by 2050. 96k km. Week of travel to residential area.

via gizmag.com

From carbon nanotubes.

13 critical steps that'll get our butts to Mars by the 2030s. Space Elevator is a smart thing.

via dvice.com

There are various huge obstacles to overcome (finding a material strong enough to sustain such a structure, for one), but some experts are hopeful we will have a functioning space elevator by the middle of next decade