Reply To: network security

[belbear42]

The main problem of getting in space (LEO, at least) is not reaching a certain altitude, it’s reaching a certain velocity (about 7 km/sec) and once you are above an altitude where wings provide lift, you have accelerate to orbital speed within a given time with a given minimal acceleration or else you will simply fall back to Earth.

All non-chemical methods of thrust (including those hypothetical focus fusion powered ones) appear to fall short of that goal because of lack of raw thrust. That’s why I propose a vehicle with a conventional rocket upper stage (LOX-LH2 as NASA would do or a much cheaper hybrid rocket as private organisations are proposing.) That upper stage is much smaller than any single stage solution and may be re-usable.

Once you are in LEO, things are different. Motors like VASIMR or direct focus fusion beam can be used to get away from Earth and roam around the solar system.

Anyone wishing to gain some hands-on experience with spaceflight, I can recommend the ORBITER software simulator on http://orbit.medphys.ucl.ac.uk/

And the best of all is that this form of spaceflight is VERY cheap: Cost is ZERO dollars. Give it a try and find out how spaceflight REALLY works!