Science Fiction Staple Soon to be Fact?

[OrnotBitwise]

The Air Force has just approved a $500,000 grant to a private company for a proof-of-concept project for the first practical mass-driver launch system. If they can make it work, this is the gizmo that will finally make large scale orbital construction financially feasible.

Go, LaunchPoint Technologies!

http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/space/12/22/magnetic.slingshot/index.html