From: gallatinwilson@comcast.net   
      
   "MattWriter"  wrote in message   
   news:20040112215455.15319.00002791@mb-m12.aol.com...   
   > << Would it be possible to build one enormous single stage solid launcher   
   > >>

   
   >   
   > There's a limit to how large you can pour a solid-fuel stage.  Make it too   
   > large, and the grain will crack from internal stresses as the rubbery   
   material   
   > cools and settles.  I forget the size of the largest one ground-tested,   
   but   
   > it's hard to believe you could make one bid enough for SSTO with   
   significant   
   > payload.   
      
      
   The largest ever tested was the Aerojet monolithic 260-inch-diameter solid.   
   These were about twice the diameter and mass of the shuttle's solids.   
      
   The problem is that SSTO requires really high Isp combined with very high   
   mass fractions. Solid motors can achieve neither.   
      
   For instance, the full-length 260-inch Aerojet solid motor (never built)   
   would have been a long way from SSTO even with no payload at all - with no   
   second stage, delta-vee would be around 5.5 km/s, not much more than half of   
   orbital speed. Gee loading would be substantial, at 23!   
      
   Regards,   
   Jonathan Wilson   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
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