/sci/ - Science & Math

>>15705398
Rockets are 90% fuel and very dense compared to air-planes, to be able to lift a fully fuelled rocket off the ground using only lift you need huge wings, which you then won't be needing for any other regime of the rocket.
Just look how much aircraft the Pegasus rocket needs to fly it around.

It makes far more sense to do vertical takeoff, since you need a TWR>1 anyway to make orbit.

Horizontal landing can make more sense, since on the return trip you are only 10% the weight and so need far less wing to fly.