Re: "Rockets not carrying fuel" and the space tower.
From: Henry Spencer (henry_at_spsystems.net)
Date: 03/29/05
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Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2005 20:51:27 GMT
In article <1112078175.801284.57190@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com>,
Matt <mamthor@gmail.com> wrote:
>As for fuelless rockets, why didn't the mass driver ever go anywhere.
>Granted anything you launch in it has to be able to withstand seriously
>extreme acceleration, but we could keep some rockets for the sensitive
>stuff and launch all the bulk into orbit with the mass driver...
The idea isn't ridiculous, but it's tricky to make it work well on Earth's
surface, where payloads have to punch out through the atmosphere. The
engineering is challenging, and building one would be a big expensive
project. And there is basically no money for developing new unorthodox
launch systems; there is little money even for new orthodox ones.
>wouldn't even think it would be terribly expensive to build compared to
>say your average space "total waste of money, should've been retired
>years ago" shuttle launch.
Remember, the cost of the shuttle is almost all "standing army" -- it's
mostly the cost of maintaining the facilities and operations teams. You
don't save anything much by canceling one launch. (The shuttle budget has
been higher than ever for the last two years, with the launch rate zero
because the shuttle is grounded.) To see major savings, you have to close
down the whole program, and preferably mothball the VAB and LC-39.
--
"Think outside the box -- the box isn't our friend." | Henry Spencer
-- George Herbert | henry@spsystems.net
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