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{{Era|UNSC|HCW}}
{{Status|Canon}}
 
{{Base infobox
[[File:Orbital_Elevator.jpg|thumb|300px|The orbital elevator's base.]]
|image=[[File:Orbital_Elevator.jpg|300px]]<br/>The orbital elevator's base.
{{Quote|Taking your packages to new heights.|Slogan of [[New Mombasa Uplift]]<ref name="streets"/>}}
|location=[[Mombasa]], [[Kenya]]
 
|purpose=
The '''Mombasa Tether''',<ref>''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe|Halo: Evolutions]]'', [[Palace Hotel (short story)|Palace Hotel]]</ref><ref>[http://halo.bungie.net/projects/odst/guide.aspx ''Bungie.net'': Halo 3: ODST Field Guide - New Mombasa]</ref> also known as the '''Mombasa Space Tether'''<ref name="universe">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/locations/new-mombasa ''Halo Waypoint'': New Mombasa]</ref> or the '''New Mombasa Orbital Elevator''',<ref>''[[Halo Encyclopedia]]'', p. 296 (2011 edition)</ref> was a [[space elevator]] located at the heart of the [[East African Protectorate]] city of [[New Mombasa]] on [[Earth]]. It was used for lifting heavy ordnance from the surrounding port facilities into a station in [[geosynchronous orbit]] at the top of the elevator structure, a transport method much cheaper and more efficient than booster rockets filled with expensive fuel. The company in charge of the management of the space elevator was called [[New Mombasa Uplift]].<ref name="streets">''[[Halo 3: ODST]]'', campaign level [[Mombasa Streets]]</ref>
|length=
|width=
|height=
|surface=
|armament=
|complement=
|built=[[2302]] or later{{Ref/Reuse|evg}}
|usage=
|destroyed=
|controlledby=[[New Mombasa Uplift]]{{Ref/Reuse|streets}}
|notable=
}}
{{Quote|Taking your packages to new heights.|Slogan of [[New Mombasa Uplift]]{{Ref/Reuse|streets}}}}
The '''Mombasa Tether''',{{Ref/Anthology|Evo|Palace Hotel}}{{Ref/Site|URL=http://halo.bungie.net/projects/odst/guide.aspx|Site=Bungie.net|Page=Halo 3 ODST : Field Guide - New Mombasa|D=25|M=05|Y=2013|LocalArchive=Archive:Bungie.net/Halo 3: ODST: Field Guide#Intel}} also known as the '''Mombasa Space Tether'''<ref name="universe">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/locations/new-mombasa ''Halo Waypoint'': New Mombasa]</ref> or the '''New Mombasa Orbital Elevator''',{{Ref/Book|Enc11|Page=296}} was a [[space elevator]] located at the heart of the [[East African Protectorate]] city of [[New Mombasa]] on [[Earth]]. It was used for lifting heavy ordnance from the surrounding port facilities into a station in [[geosynchronous orbit]] at the top of the elevator structure, a transport method much cheaper and more efficient than booster rockets filled with expensive fuel. The company in charge of the management of the space elevator was called [[New Mombasa Uplift]].{{Ref/Level|Id=streets|H3ODST|Mombasa Streets}}


==History==
==History==
[[File:H2A Campaign OldMombasa Elevator.png|thumb|250px|The elevator as viewed from Old Mombasa; the ''Solemn Penance'' holds position during the city's occupation.]]
[[File:H2A Campaign OldMombasa Elevator.png|thumb|250px|The elevator as viewed from Old Mombasa; the ''Solemn Penance'' holds position during the city's occupation.]]
{{Quote|The Mombasa space elevator!"<br>"It collapsed when the city got glassed."<br>"But the tether was thousands of kilometers high..."<br>"Yeah? Well now it's scattered all over the Savannah."<br>"Oh crap...|Two [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]] discussing the fate of the space elevator.<ref name="tsavo"/>}}
{{Quote|The Mombasa space elevator!"<br>"It collapsed when the city got glassed."<br>"But the tether was thousands of kilometers high..."<br>"Yeah? Well now it's scattered all over the Savannah."<br>"Oh crap...|Two [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]] discussing the fate of the space elevator.{{Ref/Reuse|tsavo}}}}
In [[2302]], Mombasa was chosen to be the Earth's first tether city.<ref>''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]'', p. 129</ref> As a cheap gateway to space, the elevator is the key to New Mombasa's economic and strategic importance. The presence of the elevator radically changed the structure of the city. The elevator's base resides on an artificial island with service roads and a [[MagLev train]] line radiate out from it.<ref>''Halo 3: ODST'', campaign level [[Prepare to Drop]]</ref>
In [[2302]], Mombasa was chosen to be the Earth's first tether city.{{Ref/Book|Id=evg|EVG|Page=129}} As a cheap gateway to space, the elevator is the key to New Mombasa's economic and strategic importance. The presence of the elevator radically changed the structure of the city. The elevator's base resides on an artificial island with service roads and a [[Maglev train]] line radiate out from it.{{Ref/Level|H3ODST|Prepare to Drop}}


[[File:Nmoe slipspace.jpg|thumb|200px|left|The elevator's support structure, engulfed by the aftereffects of the Slipspace rupture.]]
===Battle of Earth===
===Battle of Earth===
{{Main|Battle of Earth}}
{{Main|Battle of Earth}}
[[File:Nmoe slipspace.jpg|thumb|200px|left|The elevator's support structure, engulfed by the aftereffects of the Slipspace rupture.]]
During the [[Battle of Mombasa]], the Mombasa Tether was shut down.<ref name="story">''Halo 3: ODST'', [[Sadie's Story]] - Audio log 14, Circle 5, Arc 2</ref> When the [[Prophet of Regret]] retreated, his flagship, ''[[Solemn Penance]]'', initiated [[Slipstream space|slipspace]] transition over the city, right beside the orbital elevator. The resulting shockwave swept through the structure, weakening it considerably.{{Ref/Level|H2|Metropolis}}
During the [[Battle of Mombasa]], the Mombasa Tether was shut down.<ref name="story">''Halo 3: ODST'', [[Sadie's Story]] - Audio log 14, Circle 5, Arc 2</ref> When the [[Prophet of Regret]] retreated, his flagship, ''[[Solemn Penance]]'', initiated [[Slipstream space|slipspace]] transition over the city, right beside the orbital elevator. The resulting shockwave swept through the structure, weakening it considerably.<ref>''[[Halo 2]]'', campaign level [[Metropolis]]</ref>
 
Under an hour later on the same day, the damage from the Slipspace rupture was too much for the support structure to handle. It exploded at multiple points, and the tether snapped at some two kilometers above the surface. The upper portion of the tether was instantly pulled upward by its orbital counterweight, now severed from the groundside anchor point. The lower section collapsed, leaving only a small portion of the lower support structure intact, even though heavily damaged. Several pieces of debris crashed around the city and the surrounding area, while more fallout presumably caused considerable damage to buildings near the tether.{{Ref/Level|H3ODST|Uplift Reserve}}


Under an hour later on the same day, the damage from the Slipspace rupture was too much for the support structure to handle. It exploded at multiple points, and the tether snapped at some two kilometers above the surface. The upper portion of the tether was instantly pulled upward by its orbital counterweight, now severed from the groundside anchor point. The lower section collapsed, leaving only a small portion of the lower support structure intact, even though heavily damaged. Several pieces of debris crashed around the city and the surrounding area, while more fallout presumably caused considerable damage to buildings near the tether.<ref>''Halo 3: ODST'', campaign level [[Uplift Reserve (level)|Uplift Reserve]]</ref>
[[File:OSE landscape.jpg|thumb|150px|Shattered rings from the elevator seen on Tsavo Highway.]]
A large portion of the tower's debris was left scattered around Earth's surface, while most of the tether was pulled into space. Debris such as support rings and cables rained down to the surface far as the town of [[Voi]] and its surrounding regions, leaving large areas littered with debris and damaging infrastructure, such as the [[Tsavo highway (location)|Tsavo Highway]].{{Ref/Level|Id=tsavo|H3|Tsavo Highway}}


===Wreckage===
===Post-war===
[[File:OSE landscape.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Shattered rings from the elevator seen on Tsavo Highway.]]
After the end of the [[Human-Covenant War]], in [[2553|March, 2553]], some debris from the elevator still remained in the area near Voi.{{Ref/Level|H3|Halo (Halo 3 level)|Halo}} Eventually, the [[East African Protectorate]] would decide to rebuild the tether along with much of Mombasa as part of [[Project Rebirth]], a plan to restore areas damaged in the war.{{Ref/YouTube|Id=IGN|loVzmkTojNo|IGN|Halo Infinite: ‘Streets’ Multiplayer Map Revealed - IGN First}}{{Ref/Site|Id=CFShowcase|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/showcase-sensitive|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder - Showcase Sensitive|D=25|M=11|Y=2021}} Circa [[2560]], the tether's base had been rebuilt to a height far surpassing any nearby skyscrapers, with a large scaffolding erected to one side seemingly for reinforcement during the building process.{{Ref/Map|Id=Bazaar|HINF|Bazaar}}{{Ref/Map|Id=Streets|HINF|Streets}}
A large portion of the tower's debris was left scattered around Earth's surface, while most of the tether was pulled into space, likely ending up in an unstable orbit around Earth.<ref name="spaceflight">[http://spectrum.ieee.org/aerospace/space-flight/a-hoist-to-the-heavens ''IEEE Spectrum'': A Hoist to the Heavens]</ref> Debris such as support rings and cables rained down to the surface far as the town of [[Voi]] and its surrounding regions, leaving large areas littered with debris and damaging infrastructure, such as the [[Tsavo Highway (location)|Tsavo Highway]].<ref name="tsavo">''Halo 3'', campaign level [[Tsavo Highway (level)|Tsavo Highway]]</ref> After the end of the [[Human-Covenant War]] on [[2553|March, 2553]], some debris from the elevator still remained in the area near Voi.<ref>''[[Halo 3]]'', campaign level [[Halo (Halo 3 level)|Halo]]</ref>


==Production notes==
==Production notes==
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The elevator was not seen again until the ''[[Halo 3]]'' [[Halo 3 Announcement Trailer|Announcement Trailer]], in which several of its stabilizer rings lay shattered in the background hills. Concept art from the ''Halo 3'' Zune confirmed that the wreckage of the space elevator would play an important part in the design of the Earth levels.
The elevator was not seen again until the ''[[Halo 3]]'' [[Halo 3 Announcement Trailer|Announcement Trailer]], in which several of its stabilizer rings lay shattered in the background hills. Concept art from the ''Halo 3'' Zune confirmed that the wreckage of the space elevator would play an important part in the design of the Earth levels.


The elevator did make an appearance in the final game, with the player fighting through its ruins throughout the level [[Tsavo Highway (level)|Tsavo Highway]] and even hearing some dialogue concerning its fate from [[UNSC Marine Corps/Gameplay|Marine allies]].
The elevator did make an appearance in the final game, with the player fighting through its ruins throughout the level [[Tsavo Highway]] and even hearing some dialogue concerning its fate from [[UNSC Marine Corps/Gameplay|Marine allies]].
<gallery>
<gallery>
File:H3 - MOEWreckage.jpg|The wreckage of the Mombasa Tether in Tsavo Highway.
File:H3 - MOEWreckage.jpg|The wreckage of the Mombasa Tether in Tsavo Highway.
Line 45: Line 60:
In ''[[Halo 3: ODST]]'', the Mombasa Tether plays its most prominent role. The structure has been reimagined from its ''Halo 2'' incarnation; its base is located on an artificial island west of the city center, with [[MagLev Train]] lines leading to it, instead of the center of the Mombasa island in ''Halo 2''. Its general appearance has also been changed, with a different, near-symmetrical base structure, and an additional support structure surrounding the lower part of the tether.
In ''[[Halo 3: ODST]]'', the Mombasa Tether plays its most prominent role. The structure has been reimagined from its ''Halo 2'' incarnation; its base is located on an artificial island west of the city center, with [[MagLev Train]] lines leading to it, instead of the center of the Mombasa island in ''Halo 2''. Its general appearance has also been changed, with a different, near-symmetrical base structure, and an additional support structure surrounding the lower part of the tether.


While it was originally thought that the elevator collapsed instantly when the Slipspace rupture shook it apart, it was first revealed in the [[Keep It Clean (Trailer)|"Keep it Clean" teaser]] that the elevator did not in fact collapse instantly. In the game, the player is able to witness the actual failure and collapse of the elevator during the level [[Uplift Reserve (level)|Uplift Reserve]], played from the perspective of Corporal [[Taylor H. Miles|Taylor "Dutch" Miles]]. The wreckage of the elevator can be seen throughout the levels of the game, with its debris scattered around the city and the ocean.
While it was originally thought that the elevator collapsed instantly when the slipspace rupture shook it apart, it was first revealed in the [[Keep It Clean (Trailer)|"Keep it Clean" teaser]] that the elevator did not in fact collapse instantly. In the game, the player is able to witness the actual failure and collapse of the elevator during the level [[Uplift Reserve]], played from the perspective of Corporal [[Taylor H. Miles|Taylor "Dutch" Miles]]. The wreckage of the elevator can be seen throughout the levels of the game, with its debris scattered around the city and the ocean.
<gallery>
<gallery>
File:Elevator_standing.png|The tether following the slipspace event.
File:Elevator_standing.png|The tether following the slipspace event.
Line 54: Line 69:
In ''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]'', the Mombasa Tether returns to its ''Halo 2'' form albeit in higher definition. In the [[Blur Studio|Blur]] cutscenes, the buildings along the tether's are seemingly office towers with glass facades.
In ''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]'', the Mombasa Tether returns to its ''Halo 2'' form albeit in higher definition. In the [[Blur Studio|Blur]] cutscenes, the buildings along the tether's are seemingly office towers with glass facades.
<gallery>
<gallery>
File:H2A - Mombasa.png|The tether see in the far rear in the Blur cutscene.
File:H2A Metropolis Loadscreen.png|The tether see in the far rear in the Blur cutscene.
</gallery>
</gallery>


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<gallery>
<gallery>
File:HSS cutscene.png|The ''Solemn Penance'' fleeing, with the tether in the background as seen in ''Spartan Strike''.
File:HSS cutscene.png|The ''Solemn Penance'' fleeing, with the tether in the background as seen in ''Spartan Strike''.
</gallery>
===''Halo Infinite''===
In ''[[Halo Infinite]]'', the partially-rebuilt Mombasa Tether can be seen on the multiplayer maps [[Bazaar]] and [[Streets]]. While it is difficult to tell due to the structure's incompleteness, the rebuilt tether seems to be of a similar design to that in ''Halo 3: ODST''.{{Ref/Reuse|Bazaar}}{{Ref/Reuse|Streets}}
<gallery>
File:HINF BazaarTether.png|The tether as seen in Bazaar's skybox.
File:HINF StreetsTether2.png|The tether as seen on Streets.
</gallery>
</gallery>


==Trivia==
==Trivia==
[[File:H3ODST_Mombasa_Destroyed.jpg|thumb|The space elevator island after the tether's collapse.]]
[[File:H3ODST_Mombasa_Destroyed.jpg|thumb|The space elevator island after the tether's collapse.]]
*When the elevator snaps, the upper half is sucked into space, while the lower half, as well as some debris from the upper half, is scattered across the landscape. Some original concepts show that the tether was supposed to simply fall to the ground in its entirety. This was likely changed for realism, as if a space elevator was to be cut at its anchor point on Earth's surface, the outward force exerted by the counterweight would cause the entire elevator to rise upward into an unstable orbit.<ref name="spaceflight"/> It is, however apparent, that this was taken into account already in ''Halo 3'', as the main tether itself is not seen among the debris, which mainly includes support rings and cables, indicating that the support structures around the tether fell to the ground as the majority of the tower was pulled upward.
*When the elevator snaps, the upper half is sucked into space, while the lower half, as well as some debris from the upper half, is scattered across the landscape. Some original concepts show that the tether was supposed to simply fall to the ground in its entirety. This was likely changed for realism, as if a space elevator was to be cut at its anchor point on Earth's surface, the outward force exerted by the counterweight would cause the entire elevator to rise upward into an unstable orbit.<ref name="spaceflight">[http://spectrum.ieee.org/aerospace/space-flight/a-hoist-to-the-heavens ''IEEE Spectrum'': A Hoist to the Heavens]</ref> It is, however apparent, that this was taken into account already in ''Halo 3'', as the main tether itself is not seen among the debris, which mainly includes support rings and cables, indicating that the support structures around the tether fell to the ground as the majority of the tower was pulled upward.
*Several maps of New Mombasa seen during the [[Audio Log]]s in ''[[Halo 3: ODST]]'' show the Mag-Lev lines from the space elevator's base leading to the Mombasa island. However, as seen in-game as well as several other maps, the train lines lead only to the mainland north of the elevator.<ref name="story"/>
*Several maps of New Mombasa seen during the [[Audio log (Halo 3: ODST)|Audio log]]s in ''[[Halo 3: ODST]]'' show the Mag-Lev lines from the space elevator's base leading to the Mombasa island. However, as seen in-game as well as several other maps, the train lines lead only to the mainland north of the elevator.{{Ref/Reuse|story}}
*During the level [[Tsavo Highway (level)|Tsavo Highway]] in ''[[Halo 3]]'', when two marines have a brief dialogue about the fate of the elevator, they erroneously refer to it having collapsed when the city was glassed. As seen in ''Halo 3: ODST'', it collapsed well before the glassing of the city, due to its structure weakening from the Slipspace rupture. This may be a mistake on Bungie's part, the marines may have been misinformed of the cause of the destruction, or it may be being used in a colloquial manner to refer to the extensive damage caused by Regret's slipspace jump.
*During the level [[Tsavo Highway]] in ''[[Halo 3]]'', when two marines have a brief dialogue about the fate of the elevator, they erroneously refer to it having collapsed when the city was glassed. As seen in ''Halo 3: ODST'', it collapsed well before the glassing of the city, due to its structure weakening from the Slipspace rupture. This may be a mistake on Bungie's part, the marines may have been misinformed of the cause of the destruction, or it may be being used in a colloquial manner to refer to the extensive damage caused by Regret's slipspace jump.
*In the ''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]'' multiplayer map [[Stonetown]], a space tether remarkably similar to New Mombasa's can be viewed in the map's vista. However, the space tether appears to be under construction, and the city as a whole is nowhere near as built up as it is seen in ''Halo 2'' and ''Halo 3: ODST''. Barring considerable liberties with geography, the tether seen on the map cannot be the New Mombasa's, as Zanzibar Island is over a hundred kilometers away from the city. However, given the tether's apparent incomplete status, it is more likely that the map is set in the post-war period and depicts a new space elevator constructed further away from the East African coast, close enough to be clearly visible from Zanzibar.
*In the ''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]'' multiplayer map [[Stonetown]], a space tether remarkably similar to New Mombasa's can be viewed in the map's vista. However, the space tether appears to be under construction, and the city as a whole is nowhere near as built up as it is seen in ''Halo 2'' and ''Halo 3: ODST''. Barring considerable liberties with geography, the tether seen on the map cannot be the New Mombasa's, as Zanzibar Island is over a hundred kilometers away from the city. However, given the tether's apparent incomplete status, it is more likely that the map is set in the post-war period and depicts a new space elevator constructed further away from the East African coast, close enough to be clearly visible from Zanzibar.
*In ''Halo 3: ODST'', during "[[Prepare To Drop]]" the space elevator's stabilizer rings can be seen held by 4 separate support cables, however during the missions "[[Tayari Plaza]]" and "[[Uplift Reserve]]" these cables are absent just displaying floating rings.
*In ''Halo 3: ODST'', during "[[Prepare To Drop]]" the space elevator's stabilizer rings can be seen held by 4 separate support cables, however during the missions "[[Tayari Plaza]]" and "[[Uplift Reserve]]" these cables are absent just displaying floating rings.
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<gallery>
<gallery>
File:H2_SpaceTether_Concept.png|Early concept art of the orbital elevator for ''Halo 2''.
File:H2_SpaceTether_Concept.png|Early concept art of the orbital elevator for ''Halo 2''.
File:H3 FallenTether Concept 2.jpg|The elevator's stabilizer rings lie shattered on the Savannah in this concept art for [[Tsavo Highway (Level)|Tsavo Highway]].
File:H3 FallenTether Concept 2.jpg|The elevator's stabilizer rings lie shattered on the Savannah in this concept art for [[Tsavo Highway]].
File:H3 FallenTether Concept 1.jpg|Concept art of the fallen tether.
File:H3 FallenTether Concept 1.jpg|Concept art of the fallen tether.
File:H3 - Manual interior.jpg|More concept art of the elevator stabilizer rings shattered on the savannah.
File:H3 - Manual interior.jpg|More concept art of the elevator stabilizer rings shattered on the savannah.
Line 84: Line 106:
</gallery>
</gallery>


===Screenshot===
===Screenshots===
<gallery>
<gallery>
File:H3_TsavoDebris.jpg|One of the tower's stabilizer rings lays damaged near [[Tsavo Highway (location)|Tsavo Highway]].  
File:H3_TsavoDebris.jpg|One of the tower's stabilizer rings lays damaged near [[Tsavo highway (location)|Tsavo Highway]].  
File:SpaceTether.PNG|The New Mombasa Orbital Elevator in ''Halo 2'', as seen in a 3D model viewer.
File:SpaceTether.PNG|The New Mombasa Orbital Elevator in ''Halo 2'', as seen in a 3D model viewer.
File:H2 side tower.jpg|The tower as seen from [[Old Mombasa]] in ''Halo 2''.
File:H2 side tower.jpg|The tower as seen from [[Old Mombasa]] in ''Halo 2''.
Line 102: Line 124:
*''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''
*''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''
*''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''
*''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''
**''[[Palace Hotel (short story)|Palace Hotel]]''
**''[[Palace Hotel]]''
*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
*''[[Halo: Spartan Strike]]''
*''[[Halo: Spartan Strike]]''
*''[[Halo Mythos]]''
*''[[Halo Mythos]]''
*''[[Halo Infinite]]''


==Sources==
==Sources==
<references/>
{{Ref/Sources}}


{{SpaceElevators}}
{{SpaceElevators}}
{{MombasaLocales}}
{{MombasaLocales}}

Latest revision as of 17:11, July 17, 2023

Mombasa Tether
Orbital Elevator.jpg
The orbital elevator's base.
Facility information

Location:

Mombasa, Kenya

Historical information

Built:

2302 or later[1]

Controlled by:

New Mombasa Uplift[2]

 

"Taking your packages to new heights."
— Slogan of New Mombasa Uplift[2]

The Mombasa Tether,[3][4] also known as the Mombasa Space Tether[5] or the New Mombasa Orbital Elevator,[6] was a space elevator located at the heart of the East African Protectorate city of New Mombasa on Earth. It was used for lifting heavy ordnance from the surrounding port facilities into a station in geosynchronous orbit at the top of the elevator structure, a transport method much cheaper and more efficient than booster rockets filled with expensive fuel. The company in charge of the management of the space elevator was called New Mombasa Uplift.[2]

History[edit]

The elevator as viewed from Old Mombasa; the Solemn Penance holds position during the city's occupation.

"The Mombasa space elevator!"
"It collapsed when the city got glassed."
"But the tether was thousands of kilometers high..."
"Yeah? Well now it's scattered all over the Savannah."
"Oh crap...
"
— Two Marines discussing the fate of the space elevator.[7]

In 2302, Mombasa was chosen to be the Earth's first tether city.[1] As a cheap gateway to space, the elevator is the key to New Mombasa's economic and strategic importance. The presence of the elevator radically changed the structure of the city. The elevator's base resides on an artificial island with service roads and a Maglev train line radiate out from it.[8]

The elevator's support structure, engulfed by the aftereffects of the Slipspace rupture.

Battle of Earth[edit]

Main article: Battle of Earth

During the Battle of Mombasa, the Mombasa Tether was shut down.[9] When the Prophet of Regret retreated, his flagship, Solemn Penance, initiated slipspace transition over the city, right beside the orbital elevator. The resulting shockwave swept through the structure, weakening it considerably.[10]

Under an hour later on the same day, the damage from the Slipspace rupture was too much for the support structure to handle. It exploded at multiple points, and the tether snapped at some two kilometers above the surface. The upper portion of the tether was instantly pulled upward by its orbital counterweight, now severed from the groundside anchor point. The lower section collapsed, leaving only a small portion of the lower support structure intact, even though heavily damaged. Several pieces of debris crashed around the city and the surrounding area, while more fallout presumably caused considerable damage to buildings near the tether.[11]

Shattered rings from the elevator seen on Tsavo Highway.

A large portion of the tower's debris was left scattered around Earth's surface, while most of the tether was pulled into space. Debris such as support rings and cables rained down to the surface far as the town of Voi and its surrounding regions, leaving large areas littered with debris and damaging infrastructure, such as the Tsavo Highway.[7]

Post-war[edit]

After the end of the Human-Covenant War, in March, 2553, some debris from the elevator still remained in the area near Voi.[12] Eventually, the East African Protectorate would decide to rebuild the tether along with much of Mombasa as part of Project Rebirth, a plan to restore areas damaged in the war.[13][14] Circa 2560, the tether's base had been rebuilt to a height far surpassing any nearby skyscrapers, with a large scaffolding erected to one side seemingly for reinforcement during the building process.[15][16]

Production notes[edit]

Halo 2[edit]

In Halo 2, the space elevator is visible throughout all the Earth levels, first as a thin line on the horizon in Outskirts, then later as a ringed tower in the skyline of Metropolis. Only at the end of that level is the player offered an unobstructed view of the structure from across the artificial canal.

At the end of the campaign level Metropolis, the flagship of the Prophet of Regret flees into slipspace with the In Amber Clad in hot pursuit. This in-atmosphere jump unleashes a wave of energy that scours the area. Originally this was thought to collapse the tower, but as seen in Halo 3: ODST, this wasn't the case.

The elevator is seen in the background of two Mombasa multiplayer maps; Turf and District.

Halo 3[edit]

The elevator was not seen again until the Halo 3 Announcement Trailer, in which several of its stabilizer rings lay shattered in the background hills. Concept art from the Halo 3 Zune confirmed that the wreckage of the space elevator would play an important part in the design of the Earth levels.

The elevator did make an appearance in the final game, with the player fighting through its ruins throughout the level Tsavo Highway and even hearing some dialogue concerning its fate from Marine allies.

Halo 3: ODST[edit]

In Halo 3: ODST, the Mombasa Tether plays its most prominent role. The structure has been reimagined from its Halo 2 incarnation; its base is located on an artificial island west of the city center, with MagLev Train lines leading to it, instead of the center of the Mombasa island in Halo 2. Its general appearance has also been changed, with a different, near-symmetrical base structure, and an additional support structure surrounding the lower part of the tether.

While it was originally thought that the elevator collapsed instantly when the slipspace rupture shook it apart, it was first revealed in the "Keep it Clean" teaser that the elevator did not in fact collapse instantly. In the game, the player is able to witness the actual failure and collapse of the elevator during the level Uplift Reserve, played from the perspective of Corporal Taylor "Dutch" Miles. The wreckage of the elevator can be seen throughout the levels of the game, with its debris scattered around the city and the ocean.

Halo 2: Anniversary[edit]

In Halo 2: Anniversary, the Mombasa Tether returns to its Halo 2 form albeit in higher definition. In the Blur cutscenes, the buildings along the tether's are seemingly office towers with glass facades.

Halo: Spartan Strike[edit]

In Halo: Spartan Strike, the Mombasa Tether is seen in cutscenes, retaining a number of design elements from its Halo 2 incarnation including the taller buildings around the base of the tether.

Halo Infinite[edit]

In Halo Infinite, the partially-rebuilt Mombasa Tether can be seen on the multiplayer maps Bazaar and Streets. While it is difficult to tell due to the structure's incompleteness, the rebuilt tether seems to be of a similar design to that in Halo 3: ODST.[15][16]

Trivia[edit]

The space elevator island after the tether's collapse.
  • When the elevator snaps, the upper half is sucked into space, while the lower half, as well as some debris from the upper half, is scattered across the landscape. Some original concepts show that the tether was supposed to simply fall to the ground in its entirety. This was likely changed for realism, as if a space elevator was to be cut at its anchor point on Earth's surface, the outward force exerted by the counterweight would cause the entire elevator to rise upward into an unstable orbit.[17] It is, however apparent, that this was taken into account already in Halo 3, as the main tether itself is not seen among the debris, which mainly includes support rings and cables, indicating that the support structures around the tether fell to the ground as the majority of the tower was pulled upward.
  • Several maps of New Mombasa seen during the Audio logs in Halo 3: ODST show the Mag-Lev lines from the space elevator's base leading to the Mombasa island. However, as seen in-game as well as several other maps, the train lines lead only to the mainland north of the elevator.[9]
  • During the level Tsavo Highway in Halo 3, when two marines have a brief dialogue about the fate of the elevator, they erroneously refer to it having collapsed when the city was glassed. As seen in Halo 3: ODST, it collapsed well before the glassing of the city, due to its structure weakening from the Slipspace rupture. This may be a mistake on Bungie's part, the marines may have been misinformed of the cause of the destruction, or it may be being used in a colloquial manner to refer to the extensive damage caused by Regret's slipspace jump.
  • In the Halo 2: Anniversary multiplayer map Stonetown, a space tether remarkably similar to New Mombasa's can be viewed in the map's vista. However, the space tether appears to be under construction, and the city as a whole is nowhere near as built up as it is seen in Halo 2 and Halo 3: ODST. Barring considerable liberties with geography, the tether seen on the map cannot be the New Mombasa's, as Zanzibar Island is over a hundred kilometers away from the city. However, given the tether's apparent incomplete status, it is more likely that the map is set in the post-war period and depicts a new space elevator constructed further away from the East African coast, close enough to be clearly visible from Zanzibar.
  • In Halo 3: ODST, during "Prepare To Drop" the space elevator's stabilizer rings can be seen held by 4 separate support cables, however during the missions "Tayari Plaza" and "Uplift Reserve" these cables are absent just displaying floating rings.

Gallery[edit]

Concept art[edit]

Screenshots[edit]

List of appearances[edit]

Sources[edit]

  1. ^ a b Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 129
  2. ^ a b c Halo 3: ODST, campaign level Mombasa Streets
  3. ^ Halo: Evolutions - Palace Hotel
  4. ^ Bungie.net, Halo 3 ODST : Field Guide - New Mombasa (Retrieved on May 25, 2013) [local archive] [external archive]
  5. ^ Halo Waypoint: New Mombasa
  6. ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2011 edition), page 296
  7. ^ a b Halo 3, campaign level Tsavo Highway
  8. ^ Halo 3: ODST, campaign level Prepare to Drop
  9. ^ a b Halo 3: ODST, Sadie's Story - Audio log 14, Circle 5, Arc 2
  10. ^ Halo 2, campaign level Metropolis
  11. ^ Halo 3: ODST, campaign level Uplift Reserve
  12. ^ Halo 3, campaign level Halo
  13. ^ YouTube - IGN, Halo Infinite: ‘Streets’ Multiplayer Map Revealed - IGN First
  14. ^ Halo Waypoint, Canon Fodder - Showcase Sensitive (Retrieved on Nov 25, 2021) [archive]
  15. ^ a b Halo Infinite, multiplayer map Bazaar
  16. ^ a b Halo Infinite, multiplayer map Streets
  17. ^ IEEE Spectrum: A Hoist to the Heavens