Thanks for the vid, motion.
Quote:
Originally Posted by motion
Amazing thing about the SS is the relative crudity of the platform: A reusable vehicle strapped to a fuel tank and 2 rockets. Almost seems like 60s tech to me. We can do better!
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It may be crude in principle (obviously not, in execution) but it is very effective at getting large payloads into space.
It certainly doesn't look as sleek and aero as a 1960's Saturn rocket, at first glance. But consider that the aero concerns are secondary, behind concerns for big
structure needed if all that (needed/ payload) power had to be stacked vertically. (supported for how many G's?)
Clearly SCRAM jet tech is the more efficient way to space, as a whole lot of oxidizer need not be carried.
. ..and what makes anyone believe that we don't already have, or will soon have, that solution?