When will something launch to orbit which is fully or partially lifted by a technology other than rockets or jet engines?

For example:

• Rocket launch from lighter-than-air aircraft

• Spinlaunch

• Space elevator

• Launch via railgun

• Nuclear pulse propulsion

• Over 1km tall launch towers

Details:

• The process involves a stage of at least 1 km vertical ascent, within Earth's atmosphere, that is accomplished by a means other than rockets.

• The spacecraft must enter Earth orbit or go beyond Earth.

• The spacecraft must survive launch & return telemetry to Earth.

Technologies that are not novel enough to resolve this question by themselves:

• Any rockets that work by expelling matter downwards:

  • Nuclear thermal rockets

  • Ion engines

  • Air-breathing rockets

• Mountaintop launchpads

• Suborbital flight eg Virgin Galactic

• Launching from a heavier-than-air plane like the Pegasus rocket does