Re: How Rockets Differ From Jets

tomcat;
>I am glad that Brad Guth brought up the radiation danger of Outer Space
>because it is easy to ignore it.
You don't have to worry about creating a shield on behalf of short-term
radiation in LEO, that is unless you and your passengers encounter the
SAA or manage to locate a speck of sand along the way, or having
encountered another ABL test firing that's being orchestrated by our
crack DoD village idiots.

>I am leaning away from any 'thick' sheath of rock like substances
>because of the complexity of putting them on and taking them off,
>producing them in the first place, and the expense and difficulty of
>placing them in the predetermined positions or orbits for assembly.
Don't lean too far because, basalt is only a rock like substance in the
raw form. You obviously need to learn more and do far less leaning away
from what really works.

The potentially "thick" and good composite density of what basalt and
JB-WELD can be fabricated, as into suiting whatever density and
thickness you'd care to create. This composite is already ten fold
better off than the CNT that's becoming available. Eventually the
spendy CNT should develop into outperforming the 4.84 GPa and EM of 89
Gpa of basalt by a good 10:1, but that's spending billions more and
taking perhaps an extra decade to boot.

Basalt Continuous Fiber Mechanical Properties
http://www.albarrie.com/Process%20Engineering/pro-basalt.html
Raw Basalt fiber 2.7~2.8 g/cm3 or 2700~2800 kg/m3
Tensile strength MPa 4840 (4.84 GPa)
Elastic modulus: GPa 89
Elongation at break 3.15 %

JB WELD (epoxy) Properties in lbs/psi (MPa)
http://www.jbweld.net/coldweld.html
Tensile Strength: 3960 (27.3 MPa)
Adhesion: 1800 (12.4 MPa)
Flex Strength 7320 (50.5 MPa)
Tensile Lap Shear 1040 (7.2 MPa)
Thermal Resistant to 500ºF / 260ºC
Density: 15.8lb/gal (1.87 gm cm3)

Basalt/JB-WELD(30%) matrix/composite = 2486 kg/m3
Basalt/JB-WELD(25%) matrix/composite = 2530 kg/m3
Basalt/JB-WELD(20%) matrix/composite = 2574 kg/m3
Basalt/JB-WELD(15%) matrix/composite = 2618 kg/m3
Basalt/JB-WELD(10%) matrix/composite = 2662 kg/m3

Of course, using micro-balloons or perhaps rather milli-balloons of
basalt are offering an entirely different group of solutions, as to
creating extremely low mass composites of R-1024/m insulation value to
boot. Thus a blend of as little as 10% fiber and 90% balloons seems
perfectly doable. Filling those balloons with the likes of H2 or just
accommodating a near vacuum (such as if having been manufactured upon
the moon) and the spaceplane might float away all by itself (especially
if ever situated upon Venus). I mean, how embarrassing would that be?

>Since, however, I advocate a cargo load capacity of considerable
>poundage there should be -- on a cargo hauler sized spaceplane --
>enough capacity to bring along plenty of food, oxygen, and water, with
>extra for emergency situations.
Keep thinking C380 big or even bigger, though obviously no wings, just
an aerodynamically flying Spaceplane body of at least 100 meters in
LOA, perhaps 10 meters thick and perhaps 30 meters wide.

>Space doesn't weigh much so spacious crew quarters should be possible.
>The crew could be as small as 2 or as large as 6, but more than that
>should not be necessary.
In which case, double all of my previous dimentions. Have passenger
accommodations for 200+.

>The net result, along with the use of very light weight materials such
>as composite and titanium, should yield a ship weighing no more than
>100,000 pounds despite gargantian proportions and a 200,000 pound cargo
>capacity.
A 100% airfoil configured Spaceplane shell should be impressive and
functional. The shuttle like servace/payload compartment doors should
be configured for accommodating at least twice the volume of whatever
the shuttle now provides. Again, bigger is better. Go for a 200t
payload capacity and a GVW of 300t. Reusable massive auxiliary H2O2 and
C12H26 fuel tanks can be ductaped to the Spaceplane, then cut lose
(bombs away) once anywhere near LEO.

>The SSME is also highly reliable. Very important.
No kidding.
~

Kurt Vonnegut would have to agree; WAR is WAR, thus "in war there are
no rules" - In fact, war has been the very reason of having to deal
with the likes of others that haven't been playing by whatever rules,
such as GW Bush.
Life upon Venus, a township w/Bridge & ET/UFO Park-n-Ride Tarmac:
http://guthvenus.tripod.com/gv-town.htm
The Russian/China LSE-CM/ISS (Lunar Space Elevator)
http://guthvenus.tripod.com/lunar-space-elevator.htm
Venus ETs, plus the updated sub-topics; Brad Guth / GASA-IEIS
http://guthvenus.tripod.com/gv-topics.htm

.