beanstalk

Definitions

1. The stem of a bean plant, proverbially fast-growing and tall.
2. A tall, slim person.
   broadly, colloquial, figuratively
3. A space elevator.

Equivalents

Examples

“If we don't build⟳ a Beanstalk, somebody else will—and once one is working, the number⟳ of rocket launches will drop to zero. That's the source of more than half our income.”

“I have⟳ never liked riding the Beanstalk. My distaste was full-blown even before the disaster to the Quito Skyhook. A cable that goes up into the sky with nothing to hold⟳ it up smells too much of magic.”

“Space elevators proposed for the Earth require⟳ novel high-strength materials and a substantial counterweight for their implementation. The problem becomes easier for Mars. There is no available "counterweight" for a synchronous "beanstalk" but Phobos proves a substantial anchor in non-synchronous orbit. A tether extending 1456 km from Phobos could release⟳ objects into an orbit just entering the Martian atmosphere, providing a launch⟳ and recovery device for Mars Excursion Modules. Extending the "beanstalk" to a length of 5832 km would place⟳ the end⟳ at the fringes of the Martian atmosphere.”

CEFR level