Re: tech: optimists and pessimists

Michael Lorrey (retroman@tpk.net)
Sat, 28 Jun 1997 16:03:13 -0400


Mark Grant wrote:
>
> On Fri, 27 Jun 1997, Michael Lorrey wrote:
>
> > airspeed. As for airspeed, there really isn't any point going above Mach
> > 3-6 unless you are either going into orbit or a ballistic trajectory,
> > and impossible to go over orbital velocity (Mach 25) unless you plan on
> > going into space.
>
> Well, that's not entirely true; you could go into a forced orbit at lower
> altitude by using a second engine thrusting upwards to provide the
> required force. However, you'd certainly have problems with frictional
> heating and fuel consumption.

And its not economically cost effective. Doubling your speed means that
your flight regeime is going to be at least ten times more severe, while
you reduce your flight time to the furthest point on earth from 45
minutes at suborbital trajectory to 22.5 minutes at mach 50. I'm not
sure that anyone would pay ten times as much or more for only 22 extra
minutes.
>
> If that was possible, then the ideal might be around Mach 50 high in the
> atmosphere, or in 'low orbit'; in inverted flight you'd feel about 1g
> towards the floor of the vehicle, so the only unusual aspect would be
> seeing the ground 'above' you.
>

-- 
TANSTAAFL!!!
			Michael Lorrey
------------------------------------------------------------
mailto:retroman@tpk.net		Inventor of the Lorrey Drive
Agent Lorrey@ThePentagon.com
Silo_1013@ThePentagon.com	http://www.tpk.net/~retroman/

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