he first stage is a LOX/RP1 powered 'big cheap booster' -
not necessarily pressure fed - that flies straight up, releases the
second stage, and flies straight down to land at the launch site. The
second stage is a LOX/LH2 powered near-SSTO, s BRBR


Sounds a lot like the Kistler K-1 design. With Kistler, though, the first
stage just falls ballistically, recovered by parachutes and airbags - making it
fly to the launch site would, it seems to me, add considerable complexity.

Matt Bille
)
OPINIONS IN ALL POSTS ARE SOLELY THOSE OF THE AUTHOR