The Descent of Anansi
The Descent of Anansi is a 1982 science fiction novel by American writers Steven Barnes and Larry Niven.
Plot summary
A space station-manufactury attempts to become commercially independent from its Government backers by exporting super-strong nanowire that can only be manufactured in free-fall.
Following an attempt to sabotage their first delivery and hijack the cargo, the intrepid crew realise they can escape the hijackers. Their shuttle Anansi can become a modern-day version of its namesake, an African Spider-god, by descending to Earth on a thread.
The physics of tidal forces are explained, and the possibilities of orbital tethers to accelerate payloads into higher orbits (or indeed de-orbit shuttles without retro-rockets) are woven into a hard science fiction thriller.