From: henry@spsystems.net   
      
   In article <20040723212940.21318.00000324@mb-m18.aol.com>,   
   Allen Meece  wrote:   
   >>they [JPA] appear to need a positively miraculous L/D ratio to   
   >>make this thing work as described, and there's no hint of how they could   
   >>possibly do that.   
   >   
   >Correct about the no hint. They just say the "ion engine for the orbiter will   
   >be tested in the next five months."   
      
   The doubts about the aerodynamics are actually independent of the exact   
   engine type -- it's a generic problem that isn't sensitive to propulsion   
   details.   
      
   >   ...Let's get   
   >behind JPA and wish them success. So what if they can't or won't right now   
   tell   
   >us how to make an ATO, Airship To Orbit.   
      
   The concern is that they may not *know* how to make one:  they may be   
   kidding themselves about basic feasibility.  Indeed, it rather looks that   
   way.  I wish them luck, and I remain open to the possibility that they've   
   found some clever loophole... but right now I wouldn't invest money in it.   
      
   >It will be an affordable and wonderful thing   
   >to slowly accelerate to orbit. Space will become closer to all of us when   
   >this concept flies.   
      
   Correction:  "It *would* be" and "*if* this concept flies".   
   --   
   "Think outside the box -- the box isn't our friend."    |   Henry Spencer   
                                   -- George Herbert       | henry@spsystems.net   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)