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peterh
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What would be the implications of high-altitude or catapult launch for oribitalorbital rocket?

What would be the implications of high-altitude or catapult launch for oribitalorbital rocket?

There are lots of questions on here which ask "Why aren't rockets launched from railguns/mountains/balloons/etc." and lots of nice answers mainly dealing with the practical difficulties of doing so, which I fully appreciate.

I'd like to set that aside though, and just ask what benefits there would be for orbital launch if you could (for the sake of argument cost-free) start at various combinations of altitude up to 30km or so, and velocity up to 1 km/s or so (relative to the ground and in the direction of your choice)? Among the things that could be included in an answer if anyone can quantify them:

  1. Reduced Delta-V from altitude/gravity drag/iniitial velocity
  2. Lower initial thrust requirements (because you can choose to loose a little altitude if you like
  3. Possibility of lighter (or no) payload fairing
  4. Lower acoustical issues
  5. Possibility of using engines with something closer to vacuum nozzles
  6. Less complexity with engine ignition (no need for hold-down clamps etc.)

What would be the implications of high-altitude or catapult launch for oribital rocket?

There are lots of questions on here which ask "Why aren't rockets launched from railguns/mountains/balloons/etc." and lots of nice answers mainly dealing with the practical difficulties of doing so, which I fully appreciate.

I'd like to set that aside though, and just ask what benefits there would be for orbital launch if you could (for the sake of argument cost-free) start at various combinations of altitude up to 30km or so, and velocity up to 1 km/s or so (relative to the ground and in the direction of your choice)? Among the things that could be included in an answer if anyone can quantify them:

  1. Reduced Delta-V from altitude/gravity drag/iniitial velocity
  2. Lower initial thrust requirements (because you can choose to loose a little altitude if you like
  3. Possibility of lighter (or no) payload fairing
  4. Lower acoustical issues
  5. Possibility of using engines with something closer to vacuum nozzles
  6. Less complexity with engine ignition (no need for hold-down clamps etc.)

What would be the implications of high-altitude or catapult launch for orbital rocket?

There are lots of questions on here which ask "Why aren't rockets launched from railguns/mountains/balloons/etc." and lots of nice answers mainly dealing with the practical difficulties of doing so, which I fully appreciate.

I'd like to set that aside though, and just ask what benefits there would be for orbital launch if you could (for the sake of argument cost-free) start at various combinations of altitude up to 30km or so, and velocity up to 1 km/s or so (relative to the ground and in the direction of your choice)? Among the things that could be included in an answer if anyone can quantify them:

  1. Reduced Delta-V from altitude/gravity drag/iniitial velocity
  2. Lower initial thrust requirements (because you can choose to loose a little altitude if you like
  3. Possibility of lighter (or no) payload fairing
  4. Lower acoustical issues
  5. Possibility of using engines with something closer to vacuum nozzles
  6. Less complexity with engine ignition (no need for hold-down clamps etc.)
Clarify what I'm asking,
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Steve Linton
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Implications What would be the implications of high-altitude or catapult launch for oribital rocket -- could you do SSTO?

There are lots of questions on here which ask "Why aren't rockets launched from railguns/mountains/balloons/etc." and lots of nice answers mainly dealing with the practical difficulties of doing so, which I fully appreciate.

I'd like to set that aside though, and just ask what benefits there would be for orbital launch if you could (for the sake of argument cost-free) start at various combinations of altitude up to 30km or so, and velocity up to 1 km/s or so (relative to the ground and in the direction of your choice). Specific? Among the things that I'dcould be interestedincluded in exploringan answer if anyone can quantify them:

  1. Reduced Delta-V from altitude/gravity drag/iniitial velocity
  2. Lower initial thrust requirements (because you can choose to loose a little altitude if you like
  3. Possibility of lighter (or no) payload fairing
  4. Lower acoustical issues
  5. Possibility of using engines with something closer to vacuum nozzles
  6. Less complexity with engine ignition (no need for hold-down clamps etc.)

Ultimately, one question might be -- how much altitude/velocity would you need before you could go to a Single Stage to Orbit design?

Implications of high-altitude or catapult launch for oribital rocket -- could you do SSTO?

There are lots of questions on here which ask "Why aren't rockets launched from railguns/mountains/balloons/etc." and lots of nice answers mainly dealing with the practical difficulties of doing so, which I fully appreciate.

I'd like to set that aside though, and just ask what benefits there would be for orbital launch if you could (for the sake of argument cost-free) start at various combinations of altitude up to 30km or so, and velocity up to 1 km/s or so (relative to the ground and in the direction of your choice). Specific things that I'd be interested in exploring:

  1. Reduced Delta-V from altitude/gravity drag/iniitial velocity
  2. Lower initial thrust requirements (because you can choose to loose a little altitude if you like
  3. Possibility of lighter (or no) payload fairing
  4. Lower acoustical issues
  5. Possibility of using engines with something closer to vacuum nozzles
  6. Less complexity with engine ignition (no need for hold-down clamps etc.)

Ultimately, one question might be -- how much altitude/velocity would you need before you could go to a Single Stage to Orbit design?

What would be the implications of high-altitude or catapult launch for oribital rocket?

There are lots of questions on here which ask "Why aren't rockets launched from railguns/mountains/balloons/etc." and lots of nice answers mainly dealing with the practical difficulties of doing so, which I fully appreciate.

I'd like to set that aside though, and just ask what benefits there would be for orbital launch if you could (for the sake of argument cost-free) start at various combinations of altitude up to 30km or so, and velocity up to 1 km/s or so (relative to the ground and in the direction of your choice)? Among the things that could be included in an answer if anyone can quantify them:

  1. Reduced Delta-V from altitude/gravity drag/iniitial velocity
  2. Lower initial thrust requirements (because you can choose to loose a little altitude if you like
  3. Possibility of lighter (or no) payload fairing
  4. Lower acoustical issues
  5. Possibility of using engines with something closer to vacuum nozzles
  6. Less complexity with engine ignition (no need for hold-down clamps etc.)
Source Link
Steve Linton
  • 19.7k
  • 1
  • 64
  • 94

Implications of high-altitude or catapult launch for oribital rocket -- could you do SSTO?

There are lots of questions on here which ask "Why aren't rockets launched from railguns/mountains/balloons/etc." and lots of nice answers mainly dealing with the practical difficulties of doing so, which I fully appreciate.

I'd like to set that aside though, and just ask what benefits there would be for orbital launch if you could (for the sake of argument cost-free) start at various combinations of altitude up to 30km or so, and velocity up to 1 km/s or so (relative to the ground and in the direction of your choice). Specific things that I'd be interested in exploring:

  1. Reduced Delta-V from altitude/gravity drag/iniitial velocity
  2. Lower initial thrust requirements (because you can choose to loose a little altitude if you like
  3. Possibility of lighter (or no) payload fairing
  4. Lower acoustical issues
  5. Possibility of using engines with something closer to vacuum nozzles
  6. Less complexity with engine ignition (no need for hold-down clamps etc.)

Ultimately, one question might be -- how much altitude/velocity would you need before you could go to a Single Stage to Orbit design?