The development of a MagLev Low Earth Orbit payload launch system could:
1)Be more environmentally friendly than current launch systems that supply the space station
2)Be more reusable that the space shuttle or any other launch system currently in use.
3)Be done with current technology.
4)Have an extremely low payload delivery cost. Payload cost would be $43 per kilo vs $10,000 to $25,000 per kilogram to low earth orbit for conventional launch systems.
5)create a true space-based industry
Large inital capital expenditure prevents this technology from being developed by a private corporation. The government could do this better than the private sector.
An example of a MagLev system:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/StarTram



