  Super-Earths are one of the most common types of extrasolar planets currently
known. Hundreds of these planets have been discovered by the $Kepler$
spacecraft and other surveys, with masses up to 10 $M_\oplus$ and consequently
higher surface gravity than Earth. These planets would have greater escape
velocities than Earth, reaching as high as 27 km s$^{-1}$ for the largest
super-Earths. To launch a spacecraft from the surface of such a world with
chemical rockets would be cost-prohibitive or nearly so, while another commonly
proposed launch system, the space elevator, would lack the necessary tensile
strength to support its weight. However, we find that a hybrid launch system
combining chemical rockets and a space-based momentum-exchange tether could
reduce the $\Delta v$ to be provided by chemical rockets to reach escape
velocity by 40\%, bringing it back into the realm of feasibility. Such a system
could also function on Earth with considerably less exotic materials.
