The Discovery Enterprise: F-111 as Space Launcher

Hello One and All,
I would like to direct your attention to a recent blog posting concerningthe possibility of using the F-111 jet fighter as a space launcher by my good friend and fellow blogger Ralph Buttigieg.

Alex Michael Bonnici

Australia has successfully built small satellites like Fedsat but has completely kept out of building orbital rockets. Could that be changed? There's considerable interest in rapid response launchers by the military and civilian users. The French are looking into using a Rafale jet fighter to launch micro satellites.

Now the RAAF will be replacing the F-111 in 2010. Why not let the private sector convert de-fanged versions of the old jets into space launchers?

http://discoveryenterprise.blogspot.com/2008/10/f-111-as-space-launcher.html