XPost: rec.arts.sf.written, sci.space.policy, sci.physics   
   From: jfindley@cinci.nospam.rr.com   
      
   In article , jclarke.873638   
   @gmail.com says...   
   > >   
   > >Just because you are unwilling or unable to do the math yourself doesn't   
   > >mean the math is wrong.  Math is math.   
   >   
   > But math is not physics.  If the math does not accurately describe the   
   > physics then the math is irrelevant.   
      
   Fine, then you don't understand the physics involved.  Got it.   
      
   > >We've had this debate a long, long time ago in the sci.space newsgroups.   
   > >The fact is that there are many stages which are theoretically capable   
   > >of performing SSTO with minimal payload.   
   >   
   > According to you.   
      
   According to pretty much anyone who's run the simulations which is quite   
   a few people.   
      
   > >No one has ever done it   
   > >because the cost to get that payload into orbit is typically higher than   
   > >it would be if you just used a smaller TSTO (or higher number of   
   > >stages).  In other words, it just makes no sense to fly a disposable   
   > >SSTO.  That and the "serious" space organizations just wouldn't do   
   > >anything like this.  They've lost the drive to do anything innovative   
   > >like this.   
   > >   
   > >Now a *reusable* SSTO is a whole other kettle of fish.  I'd imagine that   
   > >we'll see BFS do an SSTO flight.  Why?  #1 because it will be reusable,   
   > >so the cost of the flight will be a small multiplier on top of the   
   > >propellant costs.  #2 it would be a useful test flight since BFS will be   
   > >tested before the BFR first stage.  #3 because Elon Musk likes to do   
   > >things that promote his products in a highly visible way.  To be the   
   > >first to launch an land a reusable SSTO will be one for the record books   
   > >for sure.  #4 Musk has already said that BFS will be SSTO capable.   
   >   
   > Musk says a lot of things.  Some of them turn out to be true.   
      
   Agreed.  And if BFR/BFS is half as good as Musk says it will be, it will   
   still revolutionize the launch industry well beyond what Falcon has   
   done.  And for a point of reference, Falcon currently has 60% of the   
   world's commercial launch market.  They'll pretty much have worked   
   through their substantial backlog by the end of this year and their   
   number of launches will actually drop in 2019 because of it.   
      
   No other company or government on this planet can launch satellites   
   cheaper than SpaceX.   
      
   > >So, we shall see.   
      
   Thanks for leaving my last statement.   
      
   Jeff   
   --   
   All opinions posted by me on Usenet News are mine, and mine alone.   
   These posts do not reflect the opinions of my family, friends,   
   employer, or any organization that I am a member of.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)