Re: Atmospheric Vortex Launcher?

"manofsan@xxxxxxxxx" <manofsan@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1128303575.786805.102410@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Hmm, the idea looks far-fetched, but the Economist magazine has
> bothered to give it some coverage:
>
> http://www.economist.com/science/displayStory.cfm?story_id=4455446
>
> The fellow claims it may be possible to create a convection-fed vortex
> within a 100-meter high and 200-meter wide "chimney", which could
> extend kilometers above it into the sky, like a tornado.
>
> The application as described in the article is for a power-generating
> plant. But could this idea somehow be used for launching payloads into
> space?

For either application, how could such an "anchored tornado" be made
fail-safe? How could we be sure that the vortex would not get loose, or
spawn other vortices?


Jim McCauley


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