SPACE ELEVATOR

• Doubles economy energy reserve production at this base
• Doubles mineral production rate at all of your bases when producing orbital improvements
• Your units equipped with drop pods may now make orbital insertions anywhere on Planet
• All Aerospace Complex restrictions on orbital improvements are waived

    This project presents an interesting suite of benefits, most of which will only be valuable in certain games. The doubled energy is, of course, useful to just about everyone, but not really worth a 500 point project all by itself.

    If you really, really like satellite improvements, you'll find this project essential, but the 50% reduction of building costs for satellites (and the ability to build them without Aerospace Complexes) will only pay off if you go on a reasonably serious program of orbital building.

    In specific tactical circumstances, the ability to launch early orbital insertions can actually be the most valuable benefit of the project. This is particularly true if a remote and well defended faction is harassing you with copters or missiles - drop a dozen or so paratroops just outside his capital and watch the wind go out of his sails when you move in. This is only true, of course, if building the project actually does give you the orbital insertion ability significantly earlier than you would have gotten it normally.