But I propose that we simply build large conventional nuclear powerplants (stationary) and use the electrical power they generate. This electrical power can power a free-electron laser, or a microwave beam, which can tranfer power to a stand-alone orbiting station. With that much juice such an orbiting station could use electrodynamic effects to repel the Earth's magnetic field, raising or lowering its orbit altitude without using any propellant.

To apply this to the problem of launching payloads we attach a long tether to the orbiting platform and set the whole thing spinning. It will rotate backwards so tha the speed at the tip of the tether will exactly cancel the speed of the orbiting platform. Therefore the tip of the tether can enter the atmosphere with relatively low airspeed. An aircraft can fly up to it, transfer a payload, and fly away. The payload is then catapaulted into orbit.

This is hard stuff. And it's unfamiliar. It's probably more challenging than Apollo, and I think we should do it. Not because it's hard, but because it's HARDER !