Space Launch Poll -&- Idea, Concept, Design Challenge

[north_star_rising]

What Assisted Space Launch (ASL) Option Do You Support?<br /><br />In this poll please follow up with your concept or idea, Thanks! Pictures or Sketches would be very nice. This is not a debate or political thread, but a presentation thread. So please try to keep your posts based on “your” ideas and concepts, or adding to others in a positive way! I would ask that before you add your comments or input to another persons idea or proposal, please PM (Private Message) them and present your idea or comment you wish to add to theirs, and if they agree, then add it!<br /><br />I would like to see this post and thread lead to and develop some sense of collaboration of ideas and participation on this problem and issue. It would be nice to see several people get behind one idea or concept, and develop it in clear view of other groups likewise working on their idea and concept. And, maybe a sense of fun competition and merging of ideas and concepts can occur from this, which can field some good solutions and concepts?<br /><br />Also in your subject header, please put a brief name for your project or proposal, so as others add their posts, it can be clearly separated one from the other, Thanks!<br /><br />If you do not like or support another persons idea or concept, please keep that to yourself, as the purpose of this poll and thread is to think outside the box, and to see what ideas or solutions people can come up with! If you want to debate this topic, please go the “Assisted Space Launch Is Badly Needed” thread, thanks!<br /><br />I truly hope this poll and challenge leads to some friendships, friendly competition, and some new ideas and concepts to solve the present launch problems relating to cost savings, efficient uses of materials & manpower, and most of all a system which can provide routine access to Earth orbit of scale and daily capability. As this is the only way the space frontier will ever be opened in any meaningful way in any reasonable time frame.<br /><b></b>

 

[north_star_rising]

The International Space Agency (ISA) proposes that an Advanced International Ground Based Assisted Space Launch (ASL) System and Fully Reusable International Space Plane (ISP) Vehicle, be Designed, Developed, Constructed, and Operated in an "Airbus Industries Like Management Model and Approach".<br /><br />This Proposal would consist of two Key Elements.<br />http://www.international-spaceplane-program.org<br />http://www.international-space-agency.net/igbsls.html<br /><br />1) (ASL) - The International Ground Based Assisted Launch System. This would use Magnetic Repulsor Forces & Technology "ONLY" to Propel a Launch Sled and Space Vehicle up a Metal Rail Track on the side of a Mountain near the Earths Equator at a constant 45 degree angle, and using an Over/Under Metal Wheel Configuration to hard lock the Launch Sled and Space Vehicle to the Launch Ramp and Rails. This system is "NOT" to be confused with a MAGLEV system, which also uses Magnetic Forces, but "Levitates" the Sled & Vehicle in the Magnetic Field as well as Propelling it with Magnetic Repulsive Forces. We have specifically picked Magnetic Repulsor Forces as the Main Propulsive Force to move the Launch Sled & Space Vehicle up the Launch Ramp and to Maximum Launch/Release Speeds, for these reasons:<br /><br />A) Solid Rocket Motor Assisted Propulsion would require Added Mass & Weight to the Launch Sled or Launch Vehicle! The Fuel & Added Structure would have to be carried on and with the Launch Sled and Space Vehicle as it is Accelerated/Launched up and off the Launch Ramp Facility.<br /><br />B) Chemical Rocket Motor Assisted Propulsion would require Added Mass & Weight to the Launch Sled or Launch Vehicle! The Fuel & Added Structure would have to be carried on and with the Launch Sled and Space Vehicle as it is Accelerated/L

 

[north_star_rising]

O.K. so right off the bat, the Air Launched - Assisted Launch Systems ( A. L. S. ) camp and group takes the lead in this poll! On the first day this was posted 5 people voted for the Air Launched - Assisted Launch Systems ( A. L. S. ), this out of 6 votes! So, I am sure the Burt Rutan success and fame has a lot to do with this!<br /><br />So which option or configuration do you propose, and please give details, reasons why, and a main picture or sketch to present that idea or concept in a real world application! Numbers, Data, and Details are great, and please include them! However, people need to see with their eyes what you are proposing or your concept in a real world application!<br /><br />So I am eagerly awaiting the responses and submissions of the Air Launched - Assisted Launch Systems ( A. L. S. ) camp and groups, and can not wait to see what they are going to present, and the different approaches and concepts which will arise from this Camp and Group!?<br /><br />So please see the concepts already worked on over the years, here below. Good Luck!

 

[grooble]

I chose the air launch. I've seen it done with my own eyes, spaceshipone, and hope t/space carries through with the logical next step of that program with orbital capability.<br /><br />Whilst reading this thread i had this idea.<br /><br />What if you created an enourmous delta wing aircraft with a dozen powerful turbine engines. On top of this would be a craft, such as the one in your image, the spaceplane. And as i mentioned a week or two ago, it could have one of those catapults like the aircraft carriers, but perhaps more powerful and a longer run.<br /><br />That way the craft would be launched away from its mothership, allowing its engines to kick in and fly to orbit. <br /><br />With a sturdy delta wing mothership, you could perhaps have a ramp at the back of it and some kind of tow cable could pull the spaceplane to the top of it.<br /><br />So you don't have to spend a lot of time and money to get the craft into position on the mothership, just a quick 10 minute operation.<br /><br />It's just a vague outline, i only thought of it 10 minutes ago.<br /><br />Also, perhaps you could incorporate the sort of floating tech JPAerospace is working on to give better lift?<br /><br />

 

[ve7rkt]

Just a note, you may want to change your terminology for PR reasons... ALS = Lou Gehrig's Disease (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). You wouldn't want anybody subconsciously prejudging against your proposal because they don't like ALS. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[north_star_rising]

One of the Assisted Launch Systems ( A.L.S. ) which does not get covered very much and is very misunderstood, and can yield very good results for Non-Manned Launch Operations, like the transport of Raw Materials, Supplies, and Non-G Sensitive Cargos, is the Vertical Ground Based Space Launch Tube System, or known as the Space Cannon or Space Gun! These systems can use either, Gas Expansion (Space Gun) or Electromagnetic Repulsion (Rail Gun), and can put both RLV's and ELV's into Earths Orbit fairly cheaply, and at a high launch rate and volume/scale.<br /><br />This is another area that needs to be seriously addressed and pursued in the Assisted Launch Systems ( A.L.S. ) arena!<br /><br />This below is a system the International Space Agency has designed and has been proposing since 1990. This system would use standard H1/O2 Chemical Rocket Motor Technology as the thrust component. The expanding hot gasses from the Standard Chemical Rocket Motors would provide the main column of reaction/thrust gasses in the launch tube, and at the base of the system H20 is pumped in, and the massive heat generated by the Rocket Motors is translated into high pressure steam, which acts as a steam turbo boost to the reaction/thrust gas column which is pushing the launch vehicle up and out of the Launch Tube at a high rate of speed and acceleration. ie: The same as a bullet is projected out of a gun barrel, but just a little more sophisticated and evolved application of this!<br /><br />http://www.international-space-agency.net/ground_based_launch_tube_system_overview.html<br /><br />http://www.international-space-agency.net/igbsls.html<br /><br />This technology has very promising applications in the delivery of massive amounts of Raw Materials, Supplies, and Non-G Sensitive Cargo to Earths Orbi

 

[north_star_rising]

grooble, please sit down and sketch your ideas out and present this in more detail, then present your concept idea. Remember this is not a debate thread, but a presentation thread. Instead of keep making new posts on your idea or concept; please just continue to edit your original concept or idea post as you evolve your idea or concept. Come up with a name or title to your post, and stick with that! This way people do not have to scan through layers and layers of idle or irrelevant posts to get to the meat of this thread, and be able to see many peoples ideas and concepts laid out neatly and orderly, THANKS!<br /><br />Also please remember if you want to debate or discuss anything, please do not do that in this post, use the "Assisted Space Launch Is Badly Needed Post" or other like post or thread, THANKS!<br /><br />http://uplink.space.com/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=missions&Number=206964&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=0&fpart=<br /><br />Again, remember this Thread is for the presentation of refined or developed ideas and concepts, and not idle conversation or debate! THANKS! <br /><br />

 

[north_star_rising]

ve7rkt, Please see my reply to grooble about the purpose and focus of this thread, and please read the intro to this thread as well? Please respect these guidelines for this thread, and if you want to contribute to this thread, PLEASE do so with in the format and purpose of this thread! THANK YOU! <br /><br />