Re: starship-design: HOTOL SeaDragon idea.

[KellySt@aol.com]

In a message dated 12/3/02 6:28:15 PM, clmanges@yahoo.com writes:

>
> ben franchuk <bfranchuk@jetnet.ab.ca> wrote:
>
>I think a smallish designed craft can be optinum for mass/payload in
>the 800 kg/2400 kg range providing the second stage is unmanned to
>a fixed space platform. 
>
>Uh, Ben, except for the part about stages, aren't you talking about something
>like the Rotary? You remember the Rotary, don't you -- goes up, gets low
>orbit, comes down -- all by itself. I think it was called "SSO." Damn shame
>about Rotary, but really, they didn't have a chance, due to their payload
>limit. Customers will demand payloads in the largest chunks they can, to
>avoid needing such fancy maneuvers as orbital assembly. They must figure
>it's the cheaper deal. Anyway, you're back to having to think big. 
>
>Curtis


Most of the small launchers like Rotary, Pineer, Kelly, etc were hunting for 
the Irridium launch market for small sats  Problem was, Irridium and that 
market fell on its face.  So they all died.

Kelly