Henry J. Cobb wrote:

Would a Space Elevator
http://flightprojects.msfc.nasa.gov/fd02_elev.html be a greater risk
to human life per mission than the current space shuttle?

While the risk of failure on any one trip would be less, when the rope
breaks it'll wrap around the Earth and strike several cities rather
than burning up a half dozen astronauts.

-HJC



As light as the rope would have to be in comparison to its length to
achieve its intended function, it would be about as devastating as a a
nylon tow cable falling out of the sky ...remember that it's going to be
at zero horizontal velocity in regards to any city it would fall on,
assuming that it's going up to GEO.
And considering that- of necessity- it's going to be on the Earth's
equator.. it is in all likelihood going cause all of its harm in scaring
the hell out of a lot of fish during its descent.

Pat