First Step Toward A Space Elevator

Now to develop a strong material for the space elevator ribbon.

1. A ribbon material.

2. A method of joining sections of material such that the section can be replaced and repaired.

3. A ribbon section replacing machine.

4. A design of ribbon such that it can survive being hit by space debris.

5. An ISRU ribbon material for the Moon - no carbon or hydrogen.

6. Climbers that can climb the new ribbon material.

I haven't any proposals about the assembly process for a space elevator. Assembling the elevator may be the hardest aspect of this concept. A fully built elevator will be at equilibrium, but when it's under construction, free ends will be difficult to control.

Do you start at geo and build from there and station-keep to keep it stable? Do you start in a preliminary orbit and slowly rotate it so one end comes down to the surface? Either way, you'd end up with a big challenge attaching the free end to the earth's surface (time constraints, stabilizing forces, etc)...