It would depend on the types of stress that the material is good at withstanding. As far as I know, an orbital tether / space elevator would mostly need to be r

It would depend on the types of stress that the material is good at withstanding. As far as I know, an orbital tether / space elevator would mostly need to be resistant to tensile stress. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stress_(mechanics) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stress_(mechanics)