Researchers have figured out how to make carbon nanotubes up to eight inches long, using chemical vapor deposition.

That means that very strong, very lightweight cables are just around the corner.

I have forgoten the name but I once read about having a spinning type space elevator which build up momentum and speed to pitch ships and supplies to other solar system destinations.
I wonder if the same system could be used as a cosmic pool cue to throw mass at an incoming asteroid, deflecting it from crossing earth orbit.
With the proper masses maybe we could even halt an asteroid in a useful orbit for space exploration. Would it work?
I tried to send this to you once before and something went wrong.

Yes, that's called a skyhook. It could work, potentially, but there are many technical issues beyond the materials strength.

The basic beanstalk methinks would be a simpler solution to space access than a whirling dervish. Elevator to the stars just 'sings' ;)

Yes, I discussed this in a Fox News columns several weeks ago. There are a lot of problems with space elevators, perhaps insurmountable, at least in the short term.

Actually I was talking about something a little further out for use in solar system access after we climb that first big step.
I meant that not only would it open up the solar system but might provide protection and mass in some kind of useful orbit for near space use.

Within my limited understanding of the problem, a lot of the challenges to an elevator are in the atmosphere. To avoid this, you just put the elevator's centre of mass at GEO and extend it only to the upper atmosphere. You then access it by either building a tower (expensive) or using aircraft, ideally blimps as they would be perfect for accessing what would essentially be a non-moving platform in the sky. As for all the debris in orbit; well, we're going to have to clean it up some day... why don't we use the space shuttles, somehow? After all the impacts they'll sustain, NASA will HAVE to get rid of them.