From: Samantha Atkins (samantha@objectent.com)
Date: Sat Jan 20 2001 - 18:35:34 MST
Adrian Tymes wrote:
>
> "Ross A. Finlayson" wrote:
> >
> > Hello,
> >
> > How about a rocket that you can carry around and set on the ground,
> > where it will then launch itself into space. Here I am talking about a
> > rocket that weighs less than fifty pounds. It would have a
> > self-contained levelling stand so it could point in the good direction
> > to achieve orbit. I am thinking it would have a propellant or ion
> > exhaust. If it was fusion powered, it could escape the plasma into the
> > launch vesicle, and power itself from the via ramscoop once it hit
> > velocity. You would have to stand fifty or a hundred meters away.
Exactly what kind of rocket can acheive the necessary thrust to reach
orbit on less than fifty pounds of possible reaction mass/fuel
(including the engine)? Unless you have mastered anti-matter/matter
reactions or can nullify gravity this looks like a very idle pipe-dream.
- samantha
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