Everything we do is in steps. This is the concept configuration for the Block III Dark Sky Station, a 14 person outpost floating at 140,000 feet. The 6,000 foot diameter facility share identical technology with the Ascender airships.jpaerospace.com #technology
Ascender 26 looks so small next to Ascender 9. (we changed how we name them, before it was by length, now it's number of ones we've built.jpaerospace.com #highaltitudeairship
It's bad drawing time! This is an updated orbital airship development path. From the left: Ellipse, Mach Glider Block 2, Mach Glider Block 4, TransAtmospheric Ascender, Initial Orbital Ascender, Full Scale Orbital Ascender. A lot goes on in between, but these are the big steps.
OK, scary moment. Everyone's been telling me I need to show my face & actually talk in my videos. This sounds suspiciously like public speaking...OK, here it goes. A time lapse inflation of the Ascender 9 airship with yours truly at the start & finish.
As part of our engine development we've begun plasma editing tests on our MHD units. We're using long bore (20in+) acrylic w/ O2. The clear acrylic lets us see what's happening w/ the plasma, however it's getting pricey. If we can use stacked & welded squares it saves a bunch. In this test we're using a side O2 feed.
why not mix airship to orbit and beamed power. instead of having solar cells on top of the airship, why not beam power from the bottom?
With the whole idea being a low-thrust-long-duration burn to orbit, you'd need a worldwide ring of power beaming stations for each orbital inclination you wanted to reach (including stations strong across any oceans you'd be crossing).
Quote from: edzieba on 02/15/2021 09:42 amWith the whole idea being a low-thrust-long-duration burn to orbit, you'd need a worldwide ring of power beaming stations for each orbital inclination you wanted to reach (including stations strong across any oceans you'd be crossing).I can't believe I'm about to say this, but:how about power beamed from orbit?
