Part 5/8:
The tapering of the cable is crucial; it must become progressively thicker as it extends upwards to effectively support itself. This variation in thickness is essential to distribute weight uniformly throughout the cable. Unfortunately, traditional materials like steel don't have the necessary specific strength to maintain a reasonable taper ratio for a cable of such extreme length. For instance, steel's specific strength is around 0.63 megapascals, whereas single-wall carbon nanotubes boast a tensile strength 26 times greater.