When one explores the potentials for accessing space adequately in the near future to solve civilization's severe problems of overconsumption of resources, conversion into toxic wastes nature cannot recycle, lack of room for people to live in comfortably ... aerospace probably will examine the enormous energy costs of conventional rocket access to space and say "you can't get there from here."
Well, instead, maybe we actually can get there from here. Explore this concept thoroughly and the civilization-enhancing applications it enables, and decide for yourself. This is not any of the usual space future scenarios, not of Buck Rogers' space rockets, nor of 1970's Apollo to the Moon vision, nor of Startrek's warp drive and Transporter. But this is a vision that may actually be able to do the job, starting now, given some people's new will to do so.
To me, this can be a pleasanter path to tomorrow, than the current one of frequent strife and increasingly resource-poor, toxic waste littered cramped lifestyle sprinkled with violence and despotism.
And this alternate path surely will have its own kind of exciting adventures, should we choose to shake off the relevant restraints of conventionality and embark on this new expanded journey for civilization.

Copyright © 2003 by J E D Cline