Author Topic: "747" to Low Earth Orbit  (Read 1308 times)

Offline JasonAW3

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2438
  • Claremore, Ok.
  • Liked: 407
  • Likes Given: 14
"747" to Low Earth Orbit
« on: 03/20/2014 07:29 pm »
Ok, no I am NOT suggesting actually taking a 747 to orbit, (although that would be kind of neat) but what I am asking is, based on the concept that DARPA was trying to sell the DC-X program as, what would it take to fly the equivelant mass of a fully loaded international, non-stop flight, New York to Tokyo 747, up into orbit and back down to a landing, (minus fuel load, of course).

Obviously, we'd need much lighter structures and materials, probably methane/LOX engines.  And getting it to operate like an airliner, would be a stretch, but what kind of technological leaps would it really need to actually do it?
My God!  It's full of universes!

Offline Rocket Science

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 10586
  • NASA Educator Astronaut Candidate Applicant 2002
  • Liked: 4548
  • Likes Given: 13523
Re: "747" to Low Earth Orbit
« Reply #1 on: 03/20/2014 07:38 pm »
Maybe the "Orient Express"...

https://www.fas.org/irp/mystery/nasp.htm
"The laws of physics are unforgiving"
~Rob: Physics instructor, Aviator

Offline cordwainer

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 563
  • Liked: 19
  • Likes Given: 7
Re: "747" to Low Earth Orbit
« Reply #2 on: 03/20/2014 09:02 pm »
Orbital flight for commercial travel would be too expensive unless your lifting something to orbit. I think you meant sub-orbital as a means to coast long distances at very high mach speeds. I don't think it would ever be economical for mass transit purposes but you could probably do it for a lot less than a typical rocket launch. Some type of combined cycle hybrid rocket/jet engine(probably closer to RATTLER than Skylon) with a RATO assist would be my suggestion.

Tags:
 

Advertisement NovaTech
Advertisement Northrop Grumman
Advertisement
Advertisement Margaritaville Beach Resort South Padre Island
Advertisement Brady Kenniston
Advertisement NextSpaceflight
Advertisement Nathan Barker Photography
1