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" between 400 and 500 kilometers above the earth. Every time a rocket went up, the whole of that bulky and very expensive first stage was destroyed—burned out, to fall forever into the oceans. Supposing, Bull mused, you could punch your second and third stages, plus the payload, up those first 150 kilometers from the barrel of a giant gun? In theory, he pleaded with the money men, it was possible, easier, and cheaper, and the gun could be used over and over again. It was his first real brush with politicians and bureaucrats, and he failed, mainly because of his personality. "
― Frederick Forsyth , The Fist of God