Ariane Economies of Scale

Ian Woollard wrote:

h (Rand Simberg) wrote in message ...

On 16 Jul 2003 14:22:52 -0700, in a place far, far away,
(Ian Woollard) made the phosphor on my monitor
glow in such a way as to indicate that:

The key phrase here is 'given level of technology'. I take that pretty
much to be measured by mass fraction.

You take it in a mistaken way. "Technology" is measured in no such
units.

Really? Then what is it measured in?

[snip]

Ok, then I challenge you to even define it; frankly I think you're
full of it and using a term that is immeasurable and undefinable, but
go ahead make my day, define it as you used it in that context.

I would say two vehicles have the same level of technology if they can
be built using the same set of components, standard parts, process
specs, and material specs.

Given that, a 2STO is easier to build than an SSTO at current levels of
technology (as evidenced by the fact that a 2STO has been built but an
SSTO has not). In theory, an SSTO will be operationally advantageous
at sufficiently high flight rates.

Mike

-----
Michael Kent Apple II Forever!!
St. Peters, MO

(Michael Kent) wrote in message ...
I would say two vehicles have the same level of technology if they can
be built using the same set of components, standard parts, process
specs, and material specs.

Yes. However two vehicles could be built with identical technology,
but just be different sizes and hence share few components, and the
above definition would seem to indicate that they are different levels
of technology.

Given that, a 2STO is easier to build than an SSTO at current levels of
technology (as evidenced by the fact that a 2STO has been built but an
SSTO has not).

That is evidence, but it could also be taken as evidence of people
believing that it is harder than it really is.

Mike