XPost: sci.space.policy, sci.physics, sci.astro   
   From: sylvia@not.at.this.address   
      
   On 23/10/2017 1:37 AM, Robert Clark wrote:   
   > The SpaceX BFR tanker can serve as a reusable SSTO by switching to a   
   > winged, horizontal landing mode:   
   >   
      
   On a quick scan through, it looks to me as if he's ignored the mass of   
   the landing gear, which in a typical aircraft is 10% of the empty weight.   
      
   A non-air breathing SSTO ends up with a horribly small payload fraction,   
   which means in turn that only a modest increase in vehicle mass can wipe   
   out the payload completely.   
      
   Sylvia.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)