From: joe@strout.net   
      
   In article <44ABC532.DB7ABD45@nospam.com>,   
    Andrew Nowicki  wrote:   
      
   > The conventional rocket launchers are shaped like a   
   > pencil to minimize aerodynamic drag during the first   
   > minute of the flight. A cone-shaped rocket launcher   
   > would generate too much drag unless it was slowly lifted   
   > above the dense part of the atmosphere (to the altitude   
   > of about 30 kilometers) with a balloon or a helicopter.   
   > Hydrogen balloons are cheap, but not reusable.   
      
   But airships (whether filled with hydrogen or helium) are.  Big ones can   
   have a quite impressive lift capacity, too.   
      
   Re. helicopters:   
      
   > 3. Electric motors are cheap and can operate at the altitude   
   >    of 30 km. Their energy source can be either a battery or a   
   >    generator standing on the ground [connected by wires].   
      
   Did you consider a power source on the ground beaming power to the   
   helicopters in the form of lasers or microwaves?   
      
   > Electric motors powered by batteries are the best choice because   
   > they are cheap, reliable, safe, and easy to use.   
      
   It's an interesting idea, though recovering all those batteries   
   parachuted from 30 km strikes me as a logistical problem, which will   
   therefore drive up the costs.  An airship might work better.   
      
   Best,   
   - Joe   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)