penlu
New member
A single stage to orbit vehicle is really difficult. I think that if the fuel tanks were combustible, the vehicle could become single stage to orbit. Right?
A single stage to orbit vehicle is really difficult. I think that if the fuel tanks were combustible, the vehicle could become single stage to orbit. Right?
A single stage to orbit vehicle is really difficult. I think that if the fuel tanks were combustible, the vehicle could become single stage to orbit. Right?
The best way into orbit is no SSTO, but IMHO, a reusable two stage rocket. You can do that with existing technology, it just requires R&D costs to reduce or manage complexity.
SSTO vehicles aren't easy, but definitely possible. The old Atlas that launched the Mercury Spacecraft was almost a SSTO. The Atlas dropped 2 of its engines during launch to reduce weight (Officially a 1.5 stage rocket), but the rest of the rocket made it to orbit.
And this was back in 1957!
So SSTO is only interesting if it can be re-used. And even then you can wonder whether it will be cheaper in the end than re-usable multi-stage, or non-reusable concepts.
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It would be reusable. When thinking of SSTO, think of the Delta Glider.
i know the DG isn't realistic. Its just an example of SSTO
Instead of launching straight up and having to fight gravity indefinitely, get a smaller shuttle, and use a magnetic launch system. Angle it east, angle it up, and launch it. We already have rail guns (guns that use a magnetic launch system (basically, the projectile rides a magnetic "wave")), and if combined with a decent engine, it could probably get us into space.
Problem: Rail guns take A LOT of power. According to wikipedia, "As of February 2008, the largest known energy ever used in a railgun was 32 million joules." So, they are big, need TONS of energy, generate heat, etc, etc, etc.
I know that we launch straight up to leave the atmosphere quickly, but if we want SSTO, we need to not fight gravity indefinitely.
~Kaito