Our fuel costs are at the very extreme now, because multi-stage rockets have an atrocious weight-to-payload ratio. Near future technology like a beanstalk (aka space elevator) would make this considerably cheaper. Heck, I can't even imagine a sensible method to get stuff into orbit that would be *more* expensive than what we're using now.
Once you're in orbit, things get much easier. Relatively speaking, of course. They'll still be hard, but it'll be a different set of problems.
Gatac
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Katy: Can I have the skill 'drive car off bridge and have parachute handy'?
Justin: It's kind of a limited skill.
Greg: Depends on how often you drive off bridges.
- d02 Quotes
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