Re: VTVL?

On Mon, 30 Jul 2007 13:51:33 +1000, in a place far, far away, Sylvia
Else <sylvia@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> made the phosphor on my monitor glow
in such a way as to indicate that:

Rand Simberg wrote:
On Mon, 30 Jul 2007 13:05:37 +1000, in a place far, far away, Sylvia
Else <sylvia@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> made the phosphor on my monitor glow
in such a way as to indicate that:

On the other hand, accelerating horizontally through the atmosphere
produces its own losses in the form of drag. So any rational launch
design will seek to find the optimum path between the two launch strategies.
Every analysis ever done on the subject indicates that the optimal
path is up out of the atmosphere with a rocket, and then a gravity
turn, again with a rocket.
Define "optimal".
Lowest cost. How do you define "optimal"?
Now cite the analysis that shows that vertical launch provides the
lowest cost solution.

There are many of them. I'm not aware of any that indicate otherwise.

Answer my question.

I'm happy to accept lowest cost as the definition. Please cite one
analysis that shows that vertical launch provides the lowest cost solution.

I didn't say anything about vertical launch.
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: VTVL?
    ... Else made the phosphor on my monitor glow ... stages, it's been remarked that when what you want to do is climb out of the atmosphere, a simple vertical takeoff rocket stage with no wings or airbreathing engines is the most efficient. ... The problem with a vertical launch is that it imparts a velocity that is perpendicular to the one needed. ...
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  • Re: VTVL?
    ... Else made the phosphor on my monitor glow ... turn, again with a rocket. ... Now cite the analysis that shows that vertical launch provides the lowest cost solution. ... Please cite one analysis that shows that vertical launch provides the lowest cost solution. ...
    (sci.space.policy)
  • Re: VTVL?
    ... Else made the phosphor on my monitor glow ... analysis that shows that vertical launch provides the lowest cost solution. ...
    (sci.space.policy)
  • Re: VTVL?
    ... Else made the phosphor on my monitor glow ... design will seek to find the optimum path between the two launch strategies. ... lowest cost solution. ...
    (sci.space.policy)
  • Re: VTVL?
    ... Now cite the analysis that shows that vertical launch provides the lowest cost solution. ... Please cite one analysis that shows that vertical launch provides the lowest cost solution. ...
    (sci.space.policy)