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/sci/ - Science & Math

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11761879 No.11761879 [Reply] [Original]

Hello fellas. How come we don't make space rockets like this, if the hardest part to get thru with most drag is the lower atmosphere? I didn't feel like explaining in words so i have painted an image.

I assume someone has designed something like this cause it's a pretty obvious idea. Where is it? Why is it bad?

>> No.11761891
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11761891

>>11761879
You're not thinking hard enough OP.
>it's a pretty obvious idea
You think they don't already do this to launch covertly?

>> No.11761914

>>11761879
>if the hardest part to get thru with most drag is the lower atmosphere?


It is not, the hardest part is accelerating to orbital velocity.

>> No.11761985

>>11761879
The virgin galactic ships launch from a mothership.
Also some of the x planes were cruise missiles with a cockpit attached that were launched from under the wing of bigger planes.

>> No.11762860
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11762860

>>11761914
This here; launching from typical aircraft heights and speeds only gets you like 5% more payload to orbit from the same sized aircraft. And launching from an aircraft limits you to rather small rockets; the biggest aircraft ever made (pic related) would have only been able to carry at most a 250 ton rocket aloft; a Falcon 9 is more than twice that.

>> No.11762940

It's just not very practical. There is some theoretical benefit to it but the logistical challenges and size limitations pretty much mean that conventional launching is still better. The real advantage of using a plan to launch your rocket is that you can always get the launch done as you can simply avoid bad weather and choose where you launch for best orbital insertion giving lot of freedom on the actual launch schedule.
The same reason is why rockets aren't launched from mountains or at least highlands, you do get a boost from doing so but the logistical challenges mean a conventional launch is still cheaper / kg delivered.