3 ms·
This would make awesome reusable first stage for orbital launches. Provided, of course, other air launch problems could be solved.
by avmich 13y ago
This would make awesome reusable first stage for orbital launches. Provided, of course, other air launch problems could be solved.
- nickff 13y agoGoing mach 6 at high altitude is not as much of a boost as it seems. Consider that orbital velocity is ~mach 25, and energy = (1/2)mv^2. Launching a space vehicle from a carrier moving mach 6 would give you (6^2)/(25^2)= 5.76% of the energy required to reach orbit. You do get some benefit from launching at high altitude, and reducing atmospheric drag, but that does not require a high speed launch. The high speed launch adds significant danger due to aerodynamic issues, along with requiring a massive fuel expenditure, and a much heavier, more complex, and expensive carrier.