Digest Number 305

> For maglev to be
> useful, as a first stage I said, it wouldn't have to
reach orbital
velocity.
> No rocket now reaches orbital velocity inside the
atmosphere. Why
make
> assumptions that make going to orbit harder? And I
think the answer
is
> "yes," but I wonder what others think? Jay Huebner
>

I agree. As long as it gets supersonic it should be
able to use scramjets until out of atmosphere for a
second stage. THe scramjet would be much more
economical than the rocket booster now used. It should
make the maglev launcher well worth while.

Jim