From: nognog@adelphia.net   
      
    wrote in message   
   news:1127135506.835715.74830@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...   
   >I am sure this topic has been covered here at some time but I missed   
   > it.   
   >   
   > Would it be feasible to use air breathing jet engines as the 1st stage   
   > (or as strap-ons) of a launch system?  Of course, that is exactly what   
   > White Knight is but what about on a larger scale unmanned?  This would   
   > mean you do not have to lift the oxidizer for the 1st stage but max   
   > altitude is limited.  Re-use would be a problem if you drop em in the   
   > ocean.   
   >   
   If you go the first 5 miles straight up with jet engines, you only have 195   
   miles left to low orbit. I heard it's an insignificant amount and a total   
   waist of time.   
      
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