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I believe it's similar to this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air-launch-to-orbit https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air-launch-to-orbit The idea is to get the rock
by bserge 6y ago
I believe it's similar to this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air-launch-to-orbit https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air-launch-to-orbit
The idea is to get the rocket as high as possible using conventional vehicles, which should make it easier for the rocket to reach orbit.
It was proposed as a way of launching rockets from countries that don't have access to the best spots on the planet.
I've followed ARCASpace with interest for a while, although it looks like nothing came out of it, sadly:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARCAspace https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARCAspace
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IAR_111 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IAR_111
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haas_(rocket) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haas_(rocket)
- valuearb 6y agoOnly problem is that altitude is the least important component of orbital space flight. To each orbit you need to achieve roughly Mach 30 in the correct inclination, and above the bulk of the atmosphere. If your rocket can achieve Mach 30 you don’t need an altitude boost from a balloon, if your rocket can’t hit Mach 30 the balloon won’t help.
- emteycz 6y agoBut hitting air isn't a small problem either, or is it?
- valuearb 6y agoIt is, but it also takes time to reach those velocities. Every orbital rocket that I am aware of has a period called MaxQ, where it has to throttle back to avoid exceeding air pressure limits. But it only occurs in lower dense atmosphere and usually ends in a few seconds. So balloon drop from high altitude avoids having MaxQ issues at all, so no throttling required (which could also make rocket engines simpler). But all the other drawbacks make air drop only useful for the tiniest of orbital payloads.