[atgm]

> If I were making one of these I'd make several tethers, spaced such that a single object can not break more than one at once.

What I'd worry about is security, honestly.

What if some nation decides that the space elevator existing isn't in the best interest of their national security, or some paramilitary group wants to make a point?

Bombing the base station would hurt the elevator. But of course, we should expect that to be secured. That still leaves the entire length of cable running up and down the elevator -- that's a huge volume of space to secure against anything explosive or fragmentary.

[manicdee]

And indeed the scenario of "terrorists sever the tether from its geostationary anchor" was part of the story in Red Mars.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_trilogy