While Nasa is busy testing its biggest ever rocket in the hope it will propel mankind to Mars, one company is planning a rather different approach to usher in a new era of space travel.
Canadian space firm Thoth has outlined plans for an elevator to space, potentially saving huge amounts of fuel and money that form part of the vast cost of launching rockets into orbit.
The company has been granted a US patent to build a freestanding tower, reaching 12 miles (20 km) above the planet's surface.
The space tower would be more than 20 times the height of Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world.
President and chief executive of Thoth Caroline Roberts claims the space tower will also include self-landing rocket technologies to herald a new era of space transportation.
Referring to the powered landing system being developed by Space X, she said: 'Landing on a barge at sea level is a great demonstration, but landing at 12 miles (20 km) above sea level will make space flight more like taking a passenger jet.'
As well as tourism, the elevator could also be used for wind-energy generation and communications.
How many of you think that this construction is really possible?
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