Does Private Rocket-Planes has a chance?!!

[holmec]

"landing with wings after traveling to space makes little sense.<br />"<br />Except when you need the drag to reduce speed on reentry. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[rocketman5000]

wings are only really helpful if you are looking for a quick turnaround time.

 

[rocketman5000]

wings are only really helpful if you are looking for (and can actually do) a quick turnaround time.

 

[rocketman5000]

hence the qualifer of (and can actually do)

 

[holmec]

"wings are only really helpful if you are looking for (and can actually do) a quick turnaround time."<br /><br />I think that in general people underestimate the air pressure in the upper atmosphere. I wonder if spacecraft of the future will make more use of it. Balloons come to mind. Perhaps messing with buoyancy could be an answer to a cheap soft landing for manned capsules. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>