Author Topic: Totally crazy idea: Space launch site on Mt Kilimanjaro?  (Read 56346 times)

Offline DMeader

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Re: Totally crazy idea: Space launch site on Mt Kilimanjaro?
« Reply #20 on: 12/19/2014 07:13 pm »
This reminds me of a segment in "The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress". Manny and the Professor visit earth, and on their tour tell every country they visit how this or that mountain or volcano or piece of high terrain is the perfect site for an earth-based escape-speed induction catapult, to reduce the cost of sending payload to the moon. Yep, Kilimanjaro was mentioned as a possible candidate.

Maybe we should think about that? (ducks... no, I am not taking this at all seriously...)
« Last Edit: 12/19/2014 07:14 pm by DMeader »

Offline mheney

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Re: Totally crazy idea: Space launch site on Mt Kilimanjaro?
« Reply #21 on: 12/19/2014 08:21 pm »
We need Mike Heney to tell us about a better site in South America.

Yeah, I actually talked with the government in Ecuador about high-altitude launch sites back in
the late '90s.  Had we been able to put together about $250M in investment money, we might
have made a go of it ...

Offline pericynthion

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Re: Totally crazy idea: Space launch site on Mt Kilimanjaro?
« Reply #22 on: 12/19/2014 10:05 pm »
A launch "blowpipe" built under Kilimanjaro is also featured in Alastair Reynolds' excellent novel "Blue Remembered Earth".

Offline llanitedave

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Re: Totally crazy idea: Space launch site on Mt Kilimanjaro?
« Reply #23 on: 12/20/2014 01:55 am »
TBH I find the idea of desecrating Kilimanjaro like this quite offensive. You end up with an obscene amount of irreversible environmental damage for very little gain.

It's not irreversible.  The next eruption is going to wipe the whole thing clean.

(I love a good thread necro!)
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Offline Eerie

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Re: Totally crazy idea: Space launch site on Mt Kilimanjaro?
« Reply #24 on: 12/20/2014 09:47 am »
If we use a mountain anyway, why not build an electromagnetic mass driver into the slope? The volcano will provide geothermal power. :-)

Offline DMeader

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Re: Totally crazy idea: Space launch site on Mt Kilimanjaro?
« Reply #25 on: 12/20/2014 01:23 pm »
If we use a mountain anyway, why not build an electromagnetic mass driver into the slope? The volcano will provide geothermal power. :-)

Heinlein already thought of that. See my post up the thread a bit  :)

Offline R7

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Re: Totally crazy idea: Space launch site on Mt Kilimanjaro?
« Reply #26 on: 12/20/2014 02:38 pm »
If we use a mountain anyway, why not build an electromagnetic mass driver into the slope? The volcano will provide geothermal power. :-)

*stabs EM mass driver on mountain slope in the heart*

*checks for movement*

*stabs it once more just to be sure*

Now stay dead!  ;)
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Offline pagheca

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Re: Totally crazy idea: Space launch site on Mt Kilimanjaro?
« Reply #27 on: 12/20/2014 02:41 pm »
If we use a mountain anyway, why not build an electromagnetic mass driver into the slope? The volcano will provide geothermal power. :-)

Than why don't we get a step further and use lava like at the end of "Journey to the Center of the Earth", to give the rocket a starting kick?

As llanitedave pointed out you get a free-bonus after each launch: automated summit cleanup.
« Last Edit: 12/20/2014 02:42 pm by pagheca »

Offline fast

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Re: Totally crazy idea: Space launch site on Mt Kilimanjaro?
« Reply #28 on: 12/20/2014 03:11 pm »
Must be the best place on earth for SSTO launch :)

The NE/E/SE neighboring countries might not like the risk from those launches at all. Plus all the prementioned reasons.

SSTO rockets arent any riskier than any other space LV. But must require less infrastructure, something similar to small airport - few hangars, fuel deport, etc.

Offline R7

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Re: Totally crazy idea: Space launch site on Mt Kilimanjaro?
« Reply #29 on: 12/20/2014 03:48 pm »
SSTO rockets arent any riskier than any other space LV. But must require less infrastructure, something similar to small airport - few hangars, fuel deport, etc.

They aren't much less riskier either.

You've been watching too much Skylon videos.
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Offline fast

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Re: Totally crazy idea: Space launch site on Mt Kilimanjaro?
« Reply #30 on: 12/20/2014 07:09 pm »
SSTO rockets arent any riskier than any other space LV. But must require less infrastructure, something similar to small airport - few hangars, fuel deport, etc.

They aren't much less riskier either.

You've been watching too much Skylon videos.

I was actually about VTOL SSTO. Kind of F9R first stage. All you need is small takeoff-landing concrete field (about the size of floating spaceport-drone:) ).

PS I suppose there will be no benefit for Skylon. If it will be able to takeoff from such altitude at all.
« Last Edit: 12/21/2014 07:49 am by fast »

Offline R7

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Re: Totally crazy idea: Space launch site on Mt Kilimanjaro?
« Reply #31 on: 12/21/2014 09:22 am »
I was actually about VTOL SSTO. Kind of F9R first stage. All you need is small takeoff-landing concrete field (about the size of floating spaceport-drone:) ).

PS I suppose there will be no benefit for Skylon. If it will be able to takeoff from such altitude at all.

Thinner atmosphere is a negative in landing, needs more dv to kill higher terminal speed. IMHO a spaceport-drone would make more sense than ruining some mountain slope. Airbreathing VTOL launch assist platform.

And you are right about Skylon, its T/O speed is supposed to be very high (~ Mach 0.5!) even at sea level. Maybe a free initial acceleration by sending it downhill? (JK)
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Offline john smith 19

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Re: Totally crazy idea: Space launch site on Mt Kilimanjaro?
« Reply #32 on: 12/21/2014 09:55 am »
SSTO rockets arent any riskier than any other space LV. But must require less infrastructure, something similar to small airport - few hangars, fuel deport, etc.
Vertical takeoff SSTO's have 2 risks.
If the design goes slightly overweight or the engines slightly underperform it does not take off at all

The other fact is simply that SSTO's expect to lose 1/3 to 2/3 of the payload of a TSTO.
Quote
They aren't much less riskier either.

You've been watching too much Skylon videos.
Actually Skylon is the odd one out in being much less riskier than VTOL SSTO's.

All aircraft and LV's have a "black zone" when engine failure will crash the vehicle, but an SSTO will have a longer period of that because it has no lift.

Skylon's winged lift uses 1/3 the thrust of its GTOW. If it's engines underperform or its structure is too heavy it still flies.

None of which is really relevant to where that runway is. 
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Offline fast

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Re: Totally crazy idea: Space launch site on Mt Kilimanjaro?
« Reply #33 on: 12/21/2014 03:59 pm »
dear JS19,

- how does risk of  "If the design goes slightly overweight or the engines slightly underperform it does not take off at all" applicable to VTOL SSTO more than to ANY other LV or even aircraft?
And after all if VTOL device dont take off the ground there no risk at all or very low :)

- why "The other fact is simply that SSTO's expect to lose 1/3 to 2/3 of the payload of a TSTO" is a risk?
Today we have a range of expendable LV with different performance, from very good payload fraction of 4-5%, to quite poor of around 1%. Somehow no one saying that those LV with low payload fraction a risky...

 

Offline Avron

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Re: Totally crazy idea: Space launch site on Mt Kilimanjaro?
« Reply #34 on: 12/21/2014 04:08 pm »
If we use a mountain anyway, why not build an electromagnetic mass driver into the slope? The volcano will provide geothermal power. :-)

*stabs EM mass driver on mountain slope in the heart*

*checks for movement*

*stabs it once more just to be sure*

Now stay dead!  ;)

At 10Kft in altitude, everyone is dying from lack of oxygen.. just give it a chance it will die 

Offline fast

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Re: Totally crazy idea: Space launch site on Mt Kilimanjaro?
« Reply #35 on: 12/21/2014 04:16 pm »
Something like SERV (https://falsesteps.wordpress.com/2012/08/18/servmurp-chryslers-space-truck/) worth to try from >6000m mountain near equator.
Changes I would suggest is: remove jet engines and aerospike, only rocket power for takeoff ad landing.
Maybe methane instead of LH for smaller LV.

45% atmospheric pressure allow to use near vacuum optimized nozzle witch will produce high specific impulse right from take off, significantly reduced atmospheric drag and a little less gravitational drag.
All this make mountain top makes VTOL SSTO more viable increasing its payload fraction. 

Offline llanitedave

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Re: Totally crazy idea: Space launch site on Mt Kilimanjaro?
« Reply #36 on: 12/21/2014 07:07 pm »
If we use a mountain anyway, why not build an electromagnetic mass driver into the slope? The volcano will provide geothermal power. :-)

*stabs EM mass driver on mountain slope in the heart*

*checks for movement*

*stabs it once more just to be sure*

Now stay dead!  ;)

At 10Kft in altitude, everyone is dying from lack of oxygen.. just give it a chance it will die

10,000 feet?  Nothing.  Tibetans and some Peruvians live at that altitude full time.  Most people can acclimate.

At 19,000 feet, now that's another story.
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Offline RobLynn

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Re: Totally crazy idea: Space launch site on Mt Kilimanjaro?
« Reply #37 on: 12/22/2014 01:12 pm »
Individuals have lived at 5950m (19500ft) for 2 years continuous http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12631426, and there is a Peruvian town of 7000 people at 5100m (16500ft), same as Everest base camp where normal westerners hang out for months at a time.  You can be active at such altitudes without too many problems, though acclimatising takes 1-2 weeks.  Having a bit more oxygen pumped into your buildings makes it a lot more comfortable.

Launching from altitude will typically cause a re-optimisation of initial acceleration to higher values that reduce gravity losses, as well as lowered aero losses for overall greater deltaV savings.  It may also allow a more squat vehicle with reduced thermal protection area, lower re-entry peak temps/accelerations and reduced structural/hydrostatic pressure overheads and lighter aeroshells.

Chimborazo at 6250m and 1° from equator in Ecuador is probably best (If it was politically sound).  And a funicular railway launch platform/tower could crawl up its side (or use a large cable car) from surrounding highlands at 3500-4000m to make life a bit easier.

Could be worth it for a return to launch site reusable TSTO like space X to squeeze the last few percent in cost or payload capacity out of the system in a highly competitive market, but as many have noted it makes most sense for SSTO where payload fractions are small and small gains in Isp, dry mass and deltaV reduction can have bigger impact.

A falling counterweight driven accelerating funicular/cablecar to raise lift off velocity to 50-100m/s would be a cheapish augmentation to save a bit more delta V.
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Offline pagheca

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Re: Totally crazy idea: Space launch site on Mt Kilimanjaro?
« Reply #38 on: 12/22/2014 02:02 pm »
Individuals have lived at 5950m (19500ft) for 2 years continuous http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12631426, and there is a Peruvian town of 7000 people at 5100m (16500ft), same as Everest base camp where normal westerners hang out for months at a time.  You can be active at such altitudes without too many problems, though acclimatising takes 1-2 weeks.  Having a bit more oxygen pumped into your buildings makes it a lot more comfortable.

I've been working for some periods at more than 5,000 m (with long periods of acclimatization at 3000) and I ensure you it is really demanding for an healthy westerner, specially if you have to spend the night there. Also, remember you wouldn't be selecting personnel among mountaineers or natives but among extremely good engineers and technician coming from any region of the US, etc.

So, "without too many problem" is really overstating, trust me... Not mentioning 7,000. At that altitude the risk of emphysema is large. O2 bottles and oxygen enriched environments still help but as soon as you work outdoor your brain becomes quite unreliable. I can't really see such a highly demanding business to be operated there.
« Last Edit: 12/22/2014 02:03 pm by pagheca »

Offline RobLynn

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Re: Totally crazy idea: Space launch site on Mt Kilimanjaro?
« Reply #39 on: 12/22/2014 02:11 pm »
Paper on launching from towers:http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20030022661.pdf

Suggests 4.7% gain in average Isp and about 50 m/s saving in delta V for 5km altitude launch ( LH2/LOX engine) vs sea level launch.

Assume a  sea level launch SSTO with RD180 engine having 330s average Isp and 9100m/s delta V (lower gravity losses of dense fuel), it will deliver 6.0% of lift off mass into orbit.

With 4.7% Isp boost and 50m/s deltaV reduction get 345.5s average Isp and 9050m/s delta V for 6.9% of lift off mass into orbit.

That is a pretty massive gain for an SSTO, equivalent to almost 450m/s saving in deltaV at the average Isp of the sea level optimised rocket, and could mean doubling the payload.
The glass is neither half full nor half empty, it's just twice as big as it needs to be.

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