The dream of building an elevator into space – a ribbon connecting earth to an orbiting station – means many things to many people: the solution to the energy crisis; a slingshot into deep space; the democratization of recreational space travel. A scattered, often embattled collection of scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs dedicate their lives to solving the hundreds of technical problems keeping that dream from becoming a reality. Sky Line catches these futurists at a key moment, when the discovery of “nanotube” materials reinvigorates their fanciful project.

Directed by Miguel Drake-McLaughlin and Jonny Leahan, Produced by Robert Wood, and edited by Chris Guido. Special guests J.D. Talasek and Dennis M. Bushnell.