NASA Looks Into Laser-Propelled Rockets As a Safer, Cheaper, and More Efficient Way to Space

This still requires a significant amount of fuel to be carried on board for the rocket's first stage. I don't see why this would be better than a linear-induction, rail-launched propulsion system, which would use a powerful magnetic pulse to accelerate the vehicle. A rail-launch system would save a significant amount of fuel, perhaps half of what is normally consumed in the first stage.

Hi Usbport, But wouldn't it also take a lot of "Fuel" to generate the enormous amount of electricity to fire a large rocket into space using linear-induction rails?

Although I do like your idea!

Xanasax

Yes, of course; but that fuel isn't being carried by the rocket. It would be stored (for example) in large capacitor banks on the ground, lined up along the rails. Therefore an equivalent sized rocket could carry more payload. It wouldn't have to use as much internally-stored fuel to lift the rest of the fuel into orbit.

Jules Verne imagined a cannon to launch a ship to the Moon. This would be done with electromagnetic energy rather than gunpowder, and the acceleration could be carefully controlled, rather than having one massive, explosive impulse.

Looks like somebody made a copy/paste error.