From: jimdavis2@earthlink.net   
      
   Brucebo wrote:   
      
   > Is is possible to make it into earth orbit using a sub-G   
   > thrusting rocket motor together with a hypersonic lifting body?   
      
   Yes. There have been many schemes of this type proposed over the   
   years. Most have involved airbreathing engines but all rocket   
   proposals have been made as well. Recently JP Aerospace has proposed   
   an ion rocket engined airship to orbit scheme.   
      
   > Assuming it is possible Newtonically, is it possible thermally,   
   > i.e. would the vehicle burn up due to atmospheric friction   
   > before it reached orbit?   
      
   Most proposals of this sort involve regenerative cooling schemes to   
   prevent airframe and/or engine failure but low dynamic pressure paths   
   (like the JP Aerospace proposal) have also been examined.   
      
   Jim Davis   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)