Re: starship-design: FTL travel

[Ben Franchuk <bfranchuk@jetnet.ab.ca>]

"L. Parker" wrote:
> 
> > Well lets get the ball rolling...
> 
> That is why I keep forwarding all those space access posts, If we don't get
> started on the infrastructure, it will never happen. Low cost access to
> space is the first step.
> 
> BTW, you should look at Delta Clipper. They killed the best possibility for
> a lander for an interstellar mission. Strong, robust, land anywhere and
> single stage to orbit....
> 
> Lee

It is a good design, but better for a smaller gravity well than the
earth.
When we get to interstellar travel a beamed energy craft that looks a
lot
like the general saucer shaped could be the ticket, or a electro-static 
fusion lander. 

For bootstrapping into space, I bet my $.43 for a 3 stage Reusable
craft.
Manned CH4,O2 plane launch to high alitude, just under mach 1. Chemical
rocket to mach 23 isp 325,(unmmaned cargo pod). Beamed energy docking
craft to mach 26, isp 650. Docking craft captures the cargo pod and
places it into orbit. It also
handles the reentry breaking on the cargo pod.The cargo pod uses simple
winged reentry system. 
While it looks more complex, it splits up the transport to better
matched
pieces, since cargo is the ticket to space travel, not people.
Ben. 

-- 
"We do not inherit our time on this planet from our parents...
 We borrow it from our children."
The Lagging edge of technology:
http://www.jetnet.ab.ca/users/bfranchuk/woodelf/index.html