On Thu, 1 Aug 2002, Pierce Nichols wrote:
> >Better yet, a reusable *orbital* booster with a single-use upper stage.
> >(To quote Max Hunter: "I like staging, but I want to do it in orbit.")
>
> It's not really possible to say a priori whether the staging event
> should be orbital or suborbital.
I disagree. It *is* possible to say a priori that the staging event
should be orbital... if performance permits. Orbital staging has far less
severe time constraints and typically rather more benign failure modes, it
allows non-chemical upper stages, it permits orbital assembly and
checkout, and oh yeah, that way the first stage has other uses. :-)
> >reasonable rule of thumb is to take an orbital delta-V and add 3km/s.
>
> That's easier than going to GEO...
Indeed so. GEO/GSO is really a rather painful place to get to. Getting
to lunar orbit is actually easier.
Henry Spencer
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
_______________________________________________
ERPS-list mailing list
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://lists.erps.org/mailman/listinfo/erps-list
