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NASA Proposes Combining a Rail Gun and a Scramjet to Fire Spacecraft Into Orbit
- adamtj 16y agoPutting the space plane under the rocket instead of on top seems like a really good idea. Using a first-stage turbojet/scramjet combo to take advantage of the readily available oxidizers in the lower atmosphere seems like it could be a huge weight and cost saver. The railgun sounds flashy and probably unnecessary, but the acceleration is so low that it may actually be practical.
- bpd1069 16y agoGet rid of the pilot and then you aren't constrained to the limits of human survivability. Extend the track to achieve Mach 4, and the plan is simplified, plus no more horrific memories for school children as it blows into tiny bits on CNN.