SpaceShipOne beats X-15

[KvHagedorn]

I suppose they would need to be made of some exotic ceramic as well, to withstand the friction-induced heat. They could make the bearings out of diamonds, I suppose.

[DukeP]

Diamonds are not good for use in hot situations.

Nothing but densely packed coal - they burn rather well...


~~DukeP~~

[cjolley]

Originally posted by KRSESQ
Next stop: LEO.

I recall hearing that the X15 pilots were ordered to keep it "low and slow" so as not to upstage NASAs Mercury 7.

Kevin

Not in the ball park.
I don't think they are going to be much over 12% of the KE needed for that.

That's why the shuttle comes in at 10 times the speed SS1 does.

And an SSx that is going to be hitting LEO is going to have to be MUCH bigger.

This is one of those things where the laws of scaling are just really, really against you.

Doc's idea of the ballute is good.
And the airplane mother-ship is definately in the right direction.

Chuck

[Brian Ellis]

Originally posted by KvHagedorn
How's this for an impossibly complicated solution? Deploy 1000 miniature turbines which would catch the incipient atmosphere and twirl maniacally fast, generating electricity. Use the electricity to propel another turbine in the opposite direction to slow the aircraft.

Guess Mr Newton would say it wouldn't work.