Here's how to get CATS for 20% of current price.

--- In ssi_list@... "Xenophile"
>
> > Sure, let's call Truax and do it.
>
> If'n I had a billion to drop on Truax (which'n I don't)...
>
> > Think of this as the ladder from the ground to the first floor.
> > Foreverafter you can use this ladder and no longer have to climb
> > willy-nilly to the first floor. This can do away with orbital
> > launch requirements.
>
> Yes, but you still need to get the rotovator stuff into orbit to
> begin with. And Sea Dragon can whump up 600 tons at a time.

Jeez, It's been awhile since I looked at the Sea Dragon specs. And
here I was look at extending the Proton to 21 tonnes. :)

>
> > All anyone has to do now is just get to 145 km altitude and dock
> > with the grapple.
>
> Yes. Could the Sea Dragon FIRST STAGE do that? Thus adding to
it's
> already formidable launch capacity?

I don't know. Why not? Sure let's do it. This scheme of mine is
built on so many suppositions, what another one.

> > With the Sea Dragon, if it can be cheaper in boosting large
> > quantities of mass into orbit, or suborbit in conjunction with
the
> > rotovator, then even better.
> >
> > Remember though, after this is built, we still need a well
> > developed sub-orbital infrastructure to get the tourists up to
> > 145km. Not just a few, but a few hundred per day.
>
> My next post. ^_^
>
> Xenophile (in a basically good mood)

OK, Looking forward to reading how we can get 100,000+ people a year
up to 145 km.

Hopefully, a destination in orbit will really spur on a suborbital
research boom and there will be multiple players servicing this
tourist market and competing on price, location, service, all the
hallmarks of the glorious free enterprise system.

TangoMan