On Thu, 1 Aug 2002, David Weinshenker wrote:
> > reasonable rule of thumb is to take an orbital delta-V and add 3km/s.
>
> Hmmm... so total of just under 13 km/s (assuming that it takes almost 10
> to get to orbit)... I remain agnostic on the question of whether it's
> practical to build a useful SSTO, but this would definitely need to be
> a multi-stage mission one way or another.
I think you might be wrong, at least as far as an expendable SSTO goes.
The Titan II first stage, with heavy ICBM-lower-stage structure, late-50s
technology, and heavy overly-powerful engines with unremarkable Isp, has
an SSTO delta-V. Give it a properly-sized engine system built with RD-253
technology to add 30-40s of Isp (!!!), slim down the structure for the
lighter loads, replace a lot of that heavy aluminum with graphite
composites, use a more efficient direct-ascent trajectory (no need for a
perigee clear of the atmosphere if you're not coming back), and maybe
launch from Santa Fe (8000ft) instead of sea level, and I think you could
do SSTE (Single Stage To Escape).
I am less confident :-) about being able to do it with a reusable system.
Henry Spencer
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