[NicknamedBob]

I considered using balloons to stage a high-altitude launch.

One of the problems of going into space is that you have a lot of atmosphere to punch through. If you ride a balloon up very high, and then take off from there, you'll need somewhat less fuel.

[Dead Corpse]

That is pretty much what Burt Rutan and Co. did with SS1 riding the White Knight carrier aircraft up to altitude, then rockets up from there.

[Monkey Face]

I thought we used balloons when we went on our "beer run?"