From: henry@spsystems.net   
      
   In article <693cff74.0402020729.48053f3d@posting.google.com>,   
   Kaido Kert  wrote:   
   >Doesnt high-altitude balloon or airship, like the one JP Aerospace and   
   >some X-Prize people are trying to do, accomplish much of the goal of   
   >subsonic flybacks ? I.e getting the rocket out of most of the   
   >amtosphere.   
      
   It's not as good as a full-blown first stage (be that a flyback design or   
   not), which contributes quite a bit of vertical and horizontal velocity   
   as well.  It *is* about as good as air launch from a subsonic aircraft.   
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   since Oct; first surprises seen; papers pending.        | henry@spsystems.net   
      
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