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alonzofyfe
Guest
Question:<br /><br />What would be the possibilities for a system for getting people into space that operates as follows:<br /><br />(1) Using a SpaceShip2 type configuration, an airplane takes off, approaches the equator, turns east, then launches a rocket.<br /><br />(2) The rocket engines take the rocket to the edge of space, but does not actually reach orbital velocity.<br /><br />Instead, the launching spacecraft meets up with a 'tug' in space that grabs on and provides the extra thrust needed to reach a space station in low equatorial orbit.<br /><br />Advantage: the fuel and materials needed to provide the additional acceleration need not be lifted into space along with the payload. This saves both the weight of that last bit of fuel and the weight of getting that fuel to where it will be used. However, it requires the working assumption that fuel provided by a tug would be less expensive than fuel launched with the rocket. Is this a realistic assumption?<br /><br />Disadvantage: Risk/complexity. A failed rondezvous means an aborted mission. Naturally, a passenger ship would then have to survive re-entry.<br /><br />If this method is feasable, what would such a craft be like? Do the fuel requirements involved for taking passengers into space actually prohibit something like this?