9 ms·
This doesn't seem impossible. There are some PoCs to be found in old technology. The shock loads are surmountable. We made an atomic bomb that worked after end
by ridgeguy 8y ago
This doesn't seem impossible. There are some PoCs to be found in old technology.
The shock loads are surmountable. We made an atomic bomb that worked after enduring at least 10KG acceleration. [1]
The aero loads (mechanical and thermal) also seem feasible. We built guided interceptors that launched from sea level and accelerated at 100G to over 7,000 mi/hr. [2] These endured incandescent skin temps within a few seconds of flight.
Aero drag loads can be mitigated mechanically. The aerospike on the Trident missile shows one way of reducing drag by putting a small mechanical probe ahead of the vehicle. [3]
No idea about the economics, but I wish them every success.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M65_atomic_cannon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M65_atomic_cannon
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sprint_(missile) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sprint_(missile)
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drag-reducing_aerospike https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drag-reducing_aerospike