Re: Question about using balloons to get into space

From: Earl Colby Pottinger (earlcp_at_idirect.com)
Date: 10/29/04 

Date: Fri, 29 Oct 2004 16:36:47 -0500
To: sci-space-tech@moderators.isc.org

navigaiter2002@aol.comSpamsuX.retro.com (Allen Meece) :

> <<> You don't save much fuel by using a balloon, though because orbit
> requires
> > *speed*, not just altitude. Most of the fuel burned in space launch is
> not
> to
> > get up high, but to get up to speed.>>
>
> Saving 20% of your fuel load is not "much fuel"? It's tremendous.
> Not only does high altitude launch make the rocket lighter and higher
to
> begin with, it also reduces the air drag wastage of fuel.
> HAL is is a marvelous advantage for CATS, denying that fact is
ludicrous.

No, denying total costs is ludicrous. How much does 20% more fuel cost?

How much does the Ballon cost?

How much to recover the Ballon cost?

If you don't recover it, how much does the insurance of a free flying ballon
that could land anywhere cost?

How much flights are lost because of a windy day that prevents lanuching the
ballon?

How much are extra development costs to ensure that the rocket engine lights
100% of the time when released from ballon.

What is your fastest turn around time between ballon lanuchs.

             Earl Colby Pottinger 

-- 
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