3 ms·
There are real advantages to launching from higher up, not just in terms of reducing drag losses but in using larger engine bells with higher ISPs, saving on st
by Symmetry 4y ago
There are real advantages to launching from higher up, not just in terms of reducing drag losses but in using larger engine bells with higher ISPs, saving on structural mass due to lower aerodynamic forces, and maybe launching from over the sea if otherwise you'd have a hard time finding a safe launch corridor.
But rockets are usually launched from the middle of large, empty pads for a reason since there's always the danger of an explosion. Unmanned planes could help but planes are expensive pieces of capital to have sitting around if you don't have a fast launch cadence. I'd tend to favor balloon style designs, though that makes getting to remote launch locations more awkward.
- SonicScrub 4y agoBalloon launch is a god-awful concept. Not only do you have the logistical challenges of air-launch (compounded by carrying a bomb with a minimally controllable vehicle), you also don't have the horizontal velocity of an aircraft to provide additional dynamic pressure at the critical pitch-up first turn phase of flight, AND you have the absymal lifting capabilities of a balloon. Balloon launch is all the downsides of air launch with a few extra thrown in for good measure, with almost zero advantages over traditional air-launch (let alone ground launch)
- schiffern 4y ago> you also don't have the horizontal velocity of an aircraft to provide additional dynamic pressure at the critical pitch-up first turn phase of flight Isn't one of the (few) advantages of balloon launch that this critical pitch-up maneuver is far less dramatic? At launch the rocket can already be oriented mostly vertical instead of mostly horizontal. Of course this has the attendant disadvantage that your rocket starts with less kinetic energy.
- deleted 4y ago[deleted]