From: gossg@gossg.org   
      
   eripe  wrote:   
      
   >Do forget about the balloon. I did the math once and you only save a few   
   percent of the fuel needed to get to LEO. In return you add a lot of   
   complexity, its simpler (and therefore better) to just make the rocket bigger.   
      
   Did your math include the shape of the rocket bell?  I was once told   
   that one of the reasons for "stages" was that the ideal shape for the   
   rocket bell depends on ambient pressure around the rocket.  If you   
   lift the rocket to where there isn't much air, you have less   
   compromise in the rocket bell shape.   
   --   
   We are geeks.  Resistance is voltage over current.   
      
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    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)