An Idea...

Actually, I am more than half-way convinced (maybe wishful thinking)
that the "next generation" propulsion already exists. One that will
replace chemical rockets and will make the space plane concept a true
reality. This system may have reached the point of laboratory
testing, may (or may not) have even gone as far as being presented to
NASA; but was turned down for some reason. Initial cost or maybe it
was too far from that which NASA feels comfortable and confident in
to be considered.

So where is it? It is lying on the back shelf of some Grad student,
engineer, or self-taught layman's bookcase just gathering dust. The
real trick is to wade through the hundreds (thousands?) of notes,
papers, cocktail napkins, etc. to find it.

I dont think that it is something that has been published, and
therefore, well known. But, it will do for space colonization what
Henry Ford did for Auto Manufacturing and Piper did for the Airplane:
make privatization possible.

That is just my opinion.

Patryk