Hypersonics Overhype

Ok, that's a second or so, then stopped. Run a trajectory starting at M=7
on the deck and tell me how long it takes to get things too hot.


Ok then how about an elevated maglev track?

Tom

Ok then how about an elevated maglev track?

Tom


Better yet, how about a 90,000 ft tall vertical maglev scramjet launch tower?
That's about 8 miles high, it should be possible to build a compression tower
of that height. If not then as close to it as we can get. The scramjet would be
accelerated upwards to Mach 7 and it would be released at 90,000 feet. Since
all the scramjet requires is a hypersonic airflow, it can use its air control
surfaces to convert from vertical hypersonic flight to horozonal hypersonic
flight and it can fly in the direction of the Earth's rotation and try to get
as close to orbital velocity as it possible can before rockets take over.

Tom

(TKalbfus) writes:
Ok, that's a second or so, then stopped. Run a trajectory starting at M=7
on the deck and tell me how long it takes to get things too hot.


Ok then how about an elevated maglev track?

That would tend to limit your ability to launch the thing to locations
with sufficiently tall mountain/maglev installations.

Jeff
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(TKalbfus) writes:

Better yet, how about a 90,000 ft tall vertical maglev scramjet launch tower?
That's about 8 miles high, it should be possible to build a compression tower
of that height. If not then as close to it as we can get. The scramjet would be
accelerated upwards to Mach 7 and it would be released at 90,000 feet. Since
all the scramjet requires is a hypersonic airflow, it can use its air control
surfaces to convert from vertical hypersonic flight to horozonal hypersonic
flight and it can fly in the direction of the Earth's rotation and try to get
as close to orbital velocity as it possible can before rockets take over.

So much for *cheap* access to space. I wonder how long it would take
to make back the investment in a 90,000 foot tall vertical maglev to
launch a scramjet.

Just how do you land such a beast? Keep in mind that unpowered glider
landings aren't exactly something that you want in a vehicle that is
intended to be operated routinely.

Jeff
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Just how do you land such a beast? Keep in mind that unpowered glider
landings aren't exactly something that you want in a vehicle that is
intended to be operated routinely.

Jeff

Parachute landing and perhaps a splashdown.

Tom

So much for *cheap* access to space. I wonder how long it would take
to make back the investment in a 90,000 foot tall vertical maglev to
launch a scramjet.


Depends on your rate of launch. I must correct myself: 90,000 ft is about 15
miles high. I think scramjets can be mass produced. One possible application is
as an ABM system. Its a cheap way to launch a large number of interceptors to
destroy incoming missiles. There is deterence value that would be well worth
the construction costs.

Tom

That would tend to limit your ability to launch the thing to locations
with sufficiently tall mountain/maglev installations.

Jeff


So?

Tom

(TKalbfus) wrote in
:

So much for *cheap* access to space. I wonder how long it would take
to make back the investment in a 90,000 foot tall vertical maglev to
launch a scramjet.


Depends on your rate of launch. I must correct myself: 90,000 ft is
about 15 miles high.

Build a tower 15 miles high? Umm, please correct me if im wrong, but this
is not possible using current materials technology. Concrete/steel/titanium
construction will only get you up to about 8 miles, and then you would have
to be satisfied with a zero-weight loading at the top of a significantly
tapered structure. Base something like 5 miles wide for the 8 mile high
structure!

Not to mention that such a construction project would be a bit....pricey.

(TKalbfus) writes:
That would tend to limit your ability to launch the thing to locations
with sufficiently tall mountain/maglev installations.

So?

You might find that there aren't any suitable locations to build such
a beast. For example, you might find the right mountain, but it may
be located in an area that's largely inaccessible.

This discussion is pointless anyway. In the near term, this doesn't
do anything for *cheap* access to space.

Jeff
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Remove "no" and "spam" from email address to reply.
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TKalbfus wrote:

Better yet, how about a 90,000 ft tall vertical maglev scramjet launch tower?

And, everybody gets a pony!

http://examinedlife.typepad.com/john...hes_were_.html

Paul