[Light Speed]

Magnetic rail launch
Ion Drive [Plasma drive] for space

Magnetic levitation tracks may someday replace the traditional vertical launch pad

A full-scale track proposed by Marshall to be built and operated at Kennedy Space Center would be about 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) long. It would accelerate a spacecraft to about 2 Gs for 9.3 seconds and reach speeds of 400 to 600 m.p.h. (640 to 960 kilometers per hour).
Researchers at Marshall are already testing 50-foot (15-meter) and 400-foot (120-meter) tracks at the center.

Plasma drive allready exists

Boeing builds Zenon [gas] Ion thrusters currently used on satillites. Pulsed Plasma drive is another configuration.

[Paul Ross]

I agree that magnetic rail launch is the way to go, especially for the SSTO. If the whole vehicle, and its fuel supply, is accelerated to a decent Mach 1 linear speed, and preferrably given some vertical loft (as from a mountain-range in Colorado or Arizona) then we are already well able to design, build and fly economically SSTO's 'human-ferry ships' today that can reach relatively HIGH ORBITS.

I think the Ion plasma drive would be great for station-keeping and stabilizing functions. I am not sure that the thrust is high-enough for all major orbital maneuvers and atmospheric re-entry.