Re: Proven principle: "Rockets not carrying fuel" and the space tower.

On Wed, 18 Feb 2009 12:23:19 -0800 (PST), Robert Clark
<rgregoryclark@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

I suggested in the posts on that thread of using pressurized fluid,
liquid or gas, supplied from the ground to provide propulsion to a
rocket and/or to support a tower to high altitude. The *principle*
behind this of using pressurized fluid supplied from the ground to
provide the thrust has now been demonstrated, if not to high altitude:

Looks like a cool toy... but to go any higher, you'd need a WAY
longer hose to supply the working fluid. I can't see how that would
be practical for high-altitude applications.

To get to altitude, you'd have to factor in the weight of the hose,
plus the friction of whatever unwinding gear you'd incorporate... and
you're *still* not into orbit - just straight up.

It's also going to take a LOT of power to pump your working fluid
from the ground to orbital altitude anyway - maybe more than rockets
use...?

.