We need a Revolutionary Development in the Commercialization of Near Space.
I have the solution.
Gaia Two...aka...G2...will FALL INTO SPACE.
There is no rocket booster used.
The launch vehicle becomes the satellite, and the satellite is recoverable.
This results in no failed rocket launches and zero debris.
Here's how it works...
The vehicle shown above ( 20 feet long and weighing @ 2000lbs ) is lifted by balloon to 150,000'.
The vehicle shown above ( 20 feet long and weighing @ 2000lbs ) is lifted by balloon to 150,000'.
G2 is fabricated in a two piece mold with an ultralight skin.
All onboard components are positioned within the mold and encapsulated in injection molded foam...rigid, strong, and extremely light weight.
The balloon lift would work much the same as Felix Baumgartner's capsule.
He easily ascended above 130,000' with a capsule weighing 2900 lbs...and was still rising when ground controllers began halting the ascent by releasing pressure from the balloon system.
The same technique will stabilize G2 at 150,000' prior to the FALL INTO SPACE.
Both Raven Aerostar ( makers of Baumgartner's system ) and Pele Lindbergh ( high altitude balloonist and designer ) have confirmed that 2000 lbs. lifted to 150,000' is doable with existing technology.
NOTE...this was originally written before The Google Guy performed his jump...more proof of concept.
Once the lift has been stabilized and everything at elevation is set, ground controllers will release G2.
G2 will drop nose down and accelerate to more than 800mph as the vehicle reaches the denser atmosphere of 120-100,000’.
Here the onboard ballast will begin moving aft as G2 slices through the atmosphere and begins to gain forward motion over Earth’s surface.
The extremely low resistance profile allows smoothly flowing air to pass over and under the vehicle which will continue to accelerate through its own undisturbed slipstream.
She will fall in a long downward swoop ( as depicted atop this page ).
At approximately 100,000', aerodynamics come into play.
G2 becomes a fast moving control surface with very little resistance profile and no drag.
At 80,000’, G2 will be momentarily horizontal to Earth’s surface as the ballast moves to the aftmost point and the bow begins to rise.
This happens smoothly and rapidly as the downward momentum is transferred to horizontal, then tangential thrust.
When the proper tangent is achieved, the highly pressurized air will provide a sustained boost to over 1000 mph.
If you picture a classic 3/4/5 triangle with 3, or 300 miles elevation being the height to orbit, and 4 being the surface of Earth, or 400 miles downrange, you will see that G2 must travel 500 miles on the tangent to achieve the 300 mile elevation.
This will take about half an hour at 1000 mph.
As for flight characteristics above the aerodynamic range, G2 is stabilized by the moveable ballast and onboard gyroscopic balance.
She will drop straight and true and soar smoothly off on the intended path.
It’s important to note that G2 will be free of atmospheric drag after only 200 miles of the trip.
The tangential path will find the vehicle in Near Space, free of drag, and rapidly escaping gravitation for most of the time.
Upon approaching the 300 mile elevation, an Earth based laser will superheat the remaining compressed air, providing the final boost to orbit insertion.
Back to the drop...
Back to the drop...
G2 will continue to accelerate until, at 80,000', she moves onboard ballast aft as her bow begins to rise.
Sustained thrust is achieved via release of highly compressed air through a controllable nozzle at the base of G2's vertical stabilizer.
This compressed air is stored within the hull in an Aramid Fibre cylinder running fore and aft along G2's center line
G2 will be propelled upward and outward as she accelerates to over 1000 mph.
Maintaining an angular course away from Earth's surface, G2 will reach 300 miles elevation in half an hour.
RE…compressed air and the instantaneous loss of specific impulse…I have a solution.
RE…compressed air volume and pressurization achievable…this is a brand new field, but I believe that 20 cf at 50,000 psi is achievable…stored in an Aramid Composite Cylinder running along G2’s center line.
RE…compressed air volume released and sustainable thrust…again brand new, but water jet cutting tools operate at psi numbers in the 100,000 plus range so plumbing and valves are doable.
At 300 miles, a targeted Earth based laser will superheat the remaining compressed air, providing the final push to orbit.
This laser propulsion technique is currently in development by Leik Myrabo.
All that's required to bring laser propulsion to fruition is economic demand for its use.
G2 provides this need.
Once in orbit, G2 is self-sustaining.
When service is complete, G2 will retrofire from orbit, drop to the range of 50 miles above Earth's surface where re-entry friction and heating will increase to dangerous levels.
A shift of ballast aft and a short blast from the compressed air nozzle will allow G2 to perform a 'skip-off' the upper atmosphere maneuver.
This will cause the vehicle to rise, slow, and cool.
A few more such maneuvers and G2 is sufficiently cooled, slowed, and in atmosphere where she can swoop to a smooth safe landing on the Ocean.
G2 is Earth's first self-launching, recyclable, zero debris space vehicle.
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LEARN MORE... http://spacesymbiosis.blogspot.com
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contact... smythspace@gmail.com ...copy/paste...
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