Comments on: “Insane Giant Mothership” http://www.jrganymede.com/2011/12/14/insane-giant-mothership/ We endeavor to give satisfaction Wed, 23 May 2012 15:42:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Adam G. http://www.jrganymede.com/2011/12/14/insane-giant-mothership/comment-page-1/#comment-62928 Adam G. Wed, 14 Dec 2011 20:09:33 +0000 http://www.jrganymede.com/?p=6479#comment-62928 The Pegasus vehicle actually put this idea into practice, though costs were too high. The Pegasus vehicle actually put this idea into practice, though costs were too high.

]]> By: Bookslinger http://www.jrganymede.com/2011/12/14/insane-giant-mothership/comment-page-1/#comment-62924 Bookslinger Wed, 14 Dec 2011 19:34:04 +0000 http://www.jrganymede.com/?p=6479#comment-62924 Using a fix-winged (airfoil-based) aircraft as a platform to lift a space rocket to a high altitude before turning on the rocket's engine is not a new idea. Back in the 1950's this was actually how it was envisioned instead of the rocket-only type of vertical launch vehicles. In the 60's, I had a children's book about what space flight was expected to be like, and the author assumed space vehicles would be launched in this manner. Using the airfoil to get the initial altitude and velocity is much more fuel efficient than a vertical takeoff. Perhaps the wingless rocket-only design was used because, at the time, the designers and engineers had more money available than technology. After taking off with conventional jet engines, the book evnisioned turning on the launch platform's ramjet engines to get additional altitude and velocity. Rutan is a genius with a proven track record. Using a fix-winged (airfoil-based) aircraft as a platform to lift a space rocket to a high altitude before turning on the rocket’s engine is not a new idea.

Back in the 1950′s this was actually how it was envisioned instead of the rocket-only type of vertical launch vehicles.

In the 60′s, I had a children’s book about what space flight was expected to be like, and the author assumed space vehicles would be launched in this manner.

Using the airfoil to get the initial altitude and velocity is much more fuel efficient than a vertical takeoff.

Perhaps the wingless rocket-only design was used because, at the time, the designers and engineers had more money available than technology.

After taking off with conventional jet engines, the book evnisioned turning on the launch platform’s ramjet engines to get additional altitude and velocity.

Rutan is a genius with a proven track record.

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