It doesn&#x27;t drop vertically back down the elevator cable! It performs a Hohmann transfer from GSO to LEO.<p>The delta-v to transfer from GSO to an LEO at 400km is 4km&#x2F;s, whilst to go from ground level is about 7km&#x2F;s.<p>That&#x27;s a significant fuel reduction, _and_ that fuel doesn&#x27;t have to go up all at once: you can keep fuel tankers at the GSO station and fuel up a rocket from there.<p><a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Hohmann_transfer_orbit" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Hohmann_transfer_orbit</a>