Launch vehicle and system and method for economically efficient launch thereof

The present disclosure relates to a launch system, a launch vehicle for use with the launch system, and methods of launching a payload utilizing the launch 5 vehicle and/or the launch system. The disclosure can provide for delivery of the payload at a terrestrial location, an Earth orbital location, or an extraorbital location. The launch vehicle can comprise a payload, a propellant tank, an electrical heater wherein propellant, such as a light gas (e.g., hydrogen) is electrically heated, and an exhaust nozzle from which the heated propellant expands to provide an exhaust 10 velocity of, for example, 7-16 km/sec. The launch vehicle can be utilized with the launch system, which can further comprise a launch tube formed of at least one tube, which can be electrically conductive and which can be combined with at least one insulator tube. An electrical energy source also can be provided. 9406720_1 (GHMatters) P101112.AU.1 20250 11013 1020 100 -135 113a / 230130 210 xx 115 220 240 260 113b 112