Rockets are big and hot and full of explodable things.
Astronauts, in contrast, are small and soft and fragile.
Putting these two things together, therefore, is a recipe
for disastrophe.
So.
MaxCo. is currently in discussion with NASA regarding the
development of the Bungee Rocket.
The
launch happens in pretty much the usual way, minus
the astronauts. Fire, noise, all that stuff.
However, the careful observator will notice a stout bungee
cord trailing behind the pillar of flames as it rises into the
sky.
If said pillar of flames suffers a mishap, pyrotechnics are
used to sever the bungee cord, and the only casualty is the
taxpayer.
However, if all goes well then, some seven seconds after
the launch, the bungee cord pulls tight and begins to
stretch. Very shortly thereafter, the crew capsule (which,
if course, is securely tied to the far end of the bungee)
boings majestically, silently, flamelessly and safely into
the air.
Even if the rocket itself fails at this point, the crew
capsule can be safely released and parachuted back to the
ground. If all goes well, however, the capsule will
overtake the rocket just as the rocket reaches its apogee.
The aforementioned pyrotechnics then sever the bungee,
leaving the capsule free to slip the surly bonds of earth.