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I am trying to think this through. I assume that such an elevator would need to be built at the Equator to have the assistance of a rotating Earth. To build it the South Pole for example, there would be no rotation, so no velocity (compared to Earth) associated with the payload, regardless of it being lifted almost 100,000 kms, the payload would fall back to Earth.
However, at the Equator, as the Elevator rises, would there not be a severe torque affect, where the initial rotational velocity of the object would fall behind that of the Elevator as it rises, so simply lifting from above would be insufficient to raise a payload into an orbit? In effect, the payload needs to be have help in lifting its horizontal velocity, not just its vertical height.
I hope this makes sense. I don't claim to be an engineer, but the notion of an elevator seems initially intriguing, but a best, appears to need much more refining.
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