Re: How big would an SSTO be?

einarbb@xxxxxxxxx wrote:

One way to
square the equation might be for the thing to take off only partially
fuelled, then once airborne and at a reasonable altitude it could tank
up in the air.

How does that sound like?

Sounds like the fine old space-fan approach of "we'll solve tough
Problem X by assuming the solution of comparably tough (if not
tougher) Problem Y."

If the refueling is done in a speed/altitude regime comparable to
air-to-air refueling as done today, you've just reinvented Orbital
Sciences and other air-launch approaches (which have their merits, but
aren't exactly paradigm-busters)..

If you're talking about hypersonic refueling -- i.e. bringing two
shock envelopes that close together and then separating without
problems -- you've just bought yourself a loooooooong R&D program.
And, of course, an operations model in which every launch is in fact
two launches.

Sounds like a sure way to drive costs down.
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Air Force names fighter jet after city of Branson
    ... tank on the opposite wing empty. ... "Making contact with the drogue was much more difficult than it appeared. ... USAF asked Alan Cobham (Flight Refueling Ltd.) to develop a refueling method ... He came up with the probe and drogue system. ...
    (rec.aviation.military)
  • Re: Fuel pressure gauge
    ... Casady) said: ... Nobody said it was. ... First thing in the morning and after every refueling. ... I would love to have a water trap in our tank, as well as a visual sight gauge, but I have to agree with the ABYC that the bottom of a fuel tank should not have such an easy point of failure that could cause a catastrophe. ...
    (rec.boats.cruising)
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