An Idea...

--- In spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com, Douglas May
>...
>Earth to orbit. So far the only technique we have is the brute
> force method of attaching an expensive, dangerous rocket to the
>cargo
> and creating a huge explosion without destroying the cargo. This
> method seems totally inadequate for creating any kind of Earth to
> Space commerce. Our two options seem to be: improve rockets, or
> devise entirely different methods of lift. Everyone seems to long
>for
> exotic methods of getting into orbit, such as anti gravity
>devices,
> tractor beams, transporter beams, etc.

Well, there are other "exotic" methods that are more down to
earth. "scramjet shuttles" is one of them. Other is "laser
propulsion", which has been tested in small scale and... it works.
For the far future, perhaps the "space elevator" would be a good
choice.

Omar Vega