/sci/ - Science & Math

Why did no one ever think of making two stage VTOL rockets before SpaceX? It was always SSTO - even the good designs

>>14611391
There are a few VTOL reusable rocket designs but they were pretty niche. People also seemed to think of using them only as SSTO’s. Odd.
One such VTOL design was an original competitor for the design of the space shuttle. To make up for crappier computers in the 70’s, the vehicle used jet engines for landing. Could it have worked? Maybe.

>http://www.astronautix.com/s/serv.html

>>14611411
The study assumed only currently-existing engines. No big methane engines existed in 2002.