Fresh Idea to Achieve LEO

All,

Perhaps it is time to question some basic assumptions that many
appear to be making:

1) The world will go united into space,

2) We will use rockets powered by multi-stage boosters,

IMO, the nations of the world are quite content with their squabbles
over nationalistic issues and could care less about space
colonization. The cushy relationship between governments and launch
providers is mutually profitible, and so well entrenched.
Marshall Savage's approach, as described in the Millenium Project, to
start first with a sea based colony of supporters is a very wise one
worth pondering since it will attract the one out of 1000 who have
sufficient vision to realize the historic importance of what is being
proposed.
Building the first space colony near the equator will allow for the
establishment of governmental, financial and technological procedures
that will be extended into space. Those not suited to life in a
colony can easily return to their nation of origin.
The colony then provides the economic profits to fund the next step
into space, etc.

2) The primary flaw of rockets is that they accellerate fuel AND the
payload, which is very wasteful, energy wise. A much better approach
would be to direct power from earth or space to the vehicle/payload.
Again, Savage's proposals to use water vapor for propellent vaporized
by ground based lasers after vacuum tube acceleration has merrit IMO.

Another strategy might be to use a tether to snare a high flying
payload and them "pull" it up to space... thus avoiding the use of
rockets all together.

Cheers,

Tom Tucker
Olympia WA