[snrplfth]

Even if you had effective nuclear pulse propulsion, you'd still need reusable chemical launchers to get them off the surface of Earth. Nuclear pulse engines are generally not something that you start up inside an atmosphere, for both safety and efficiency reasons.

[simonh]

The post I was responding to strongly implied using these for launches.

> ..It would also allow us to practically ship up enough materials to build self-sustaining habitats in near space..