Michael Gallagher wrote:
On Fri, 16 Nov 2007 09:19:35 GMT, "Brian Gaff"
wrote:

You don't want to be recovering complex engines from the sea though, so you
would need to launch them from a place where the recovery could be inland.
Tin hats anyone?


Actually, you can launch them from the coast, as long as they're in a
flyback booster that turns around and lands at the launch site. TSTO
anyone?

That defeats the purpose of single stage to orbit (SSTO) spaceflight, in
which the core stage is delivered to orbit. The only credible option is
once around near SSTO (NSSTO) of the engine propulsion unit itself. I
also have a Plan B that involves stage and a half booster augmentation.

What I intend to do is just use the payload aeroshield, the nose cone if
you will, as a large shipping container. A five meter nose cone has the
correct geometry for both reentry and SSME return (block first into the
nose cone for stability, axial gee forces similar to launch, nozzle up
to prevent it from getting wet, and padded with an inflatable bubble).

What we want to do is *demonstrate* COTS capabilities, using innovation.

You can read all about it on November 22, 2007, right now I'm busy.