From: tomswift@cruzio.com   
      
   In article <44DF4159.609952FE@nospam.com>,   
    Andrew Nowicki  wrote:   
      
   > dan wrote:   
   >   
   > > Back in the 50's when no one knew if spaceflight was even possible,   
   > > several tests were made with sounding rockets launched by balloon at   
   > > high altitude.  However the payload capability of even very large   
   > > balloons declines at extreme altitude, and launching a large balloon is   
   > > tricky. Because of the long period climbing to launch altitude   
   > > cryogenic propellants were not practical. Ultimately it was not   
   > > possible to carry rockets capable of getting into orbit. A similar   
   > > problem will occur with rotorcraft.   
   >   
   > It will not.   
   >   
   > The helicopter can fly much faster than the balloon.   
   > If it flies vertically at the rate of 33 meters per second,   
   > it will reach the altitude of 30 kilometers in 15 minutes.   
   > Liquid oxygen and liquid methane will not evaporate   
   > in 15 minutes.   
   >   
   > > On the other hand, a fixed-wing aircraft.i.e. the B-70, can indeed be   
   > > designed to carry a large payload at high altitude. While a large blunt   
   > > cone would have to much drag for external carriage on an aircraft, a   
   > > saucer-shaped vehicle could be carried and launched edge first and   
   > > re-enter flat side first; this is pretty much what Rutan's SpaceShip   
   > > One does with its pivoting tail. This can spread the heating over a   
   > > large area as with the Apollo Capsule, reducing thermal loads.   
   >   
   > The airplane is superior to rocket as a means of transportation   
   > through the troposphere because it is slower and much more   
   > reusable. It is however not as slow as the helicopter, and   
   > the separation of the rocket launcher and its cargo from the   
   > airplane is tricky due to the aerodynamic drag.   
      
   Andrew, the record altitude that a helicopter has flown with only a   
   pilot is 8,848 meters (29028 feet).  To scale this up to a vehicle   
   capable of carrying a rocket of significant weight for say a 1000 kg   
   orbital payload would be akin to scaling up the Golden Gate Bridge to   
   span from San Francisco to Hawaii.   
      
   --   
   Mike   
      
   Some say we must tax corporations more.  What they do not understand is that   
   corporations do not pay taxes.  One of our governments conditions for their   
   existence is they collect the taxes from their customers and pass them to   
   the government.   
   Mike Swift   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)