Gas has mass. The density differential of gases heavier than oxygen can't overcome gravity. You have to lift it, so you have an elevator.
It actually needs to be longer than 32000km if you want it to be geostationary because it needs a counterweight so the tension on the cable is equal at GEO. Yes you can vent the gas at LEO (though it will eventually come back down in a decade or so at that altitude)
Gas has mass. The density differential of gases heavier than oxygen can't overcome gravity. You have to lift it, so you have an elevator.
It actually needs to be longer than 32000km if you want it to be geostationary because it needs a counterweight so the tension on the cable is equal at GEO. Yes you can vent the gas at LEO (though it will eventually come back down in a decade or so at that altitude)
ah, ok.