Artwork of an orbital ring around the Earth. This is a structure that completely encircles the entire planet in a closed loop, composed of inner and outer loops. They can surround the Earth (or any other planetary body) at any height and inclination. The inner segment moves slightly faster than orbital speed, so that it remains taught and balanced against gravity. The outer (visible) portion is suspended above or around the inner one using electromagnetic levitation. A person standing on the structure would experience almost as much weight as on the surface of the planet, as they are not in orbit/freefall (only the inner segments are). Structures could be build upon these rings, such as factories. They can even be used as launch platforms for space-bound vehicles, or they can be connected to the ground via cables that elevators can climb.