E
enroger
Guest
Hi everyone! I have been thinking if we can combine space plane and space tug to create a really cheap access to space:<br /><br />First we have a permanent space tug in LEO, then we have our suborbital space plane like spaceshipone. Then when our space plane take off from earth with a detachable payload canister (with fuel tank), the space tug will decelerate from LEO to rendezvous with the space plane when the plane reach highest altitude. Next they have probably a few minutes for the space plane to transfer the cargo with fuel tank to the space tug. And then the space tug burn and reach LEO. Space plane return Burt Rutan style.<br /><br />This scheme will not save fuel. But it divides the problem of building an all powerful space plane orbiter into two smaller and manageable problem of building a suborbital space plane and a space tug. The most difficult part is probably the cargo transfer in a few minutes thing.<br />