Scramjets !!!! It works

On Tue, 23 Nov 2004 13:46:49 -0000, ANTIcarrot
wrote:
> Plus there's that little problem of global warming which you may have heard
> off. The Jet industry is the second largest contributor after the car
> industry and current research is centered around fixing that problem rather
> than going faster.

Irrelevant to launch vehicles for the foreseeable future. Launches
aren't common enough for them to be significant. Skylon of course uses
hydrogen, which doesn't necessarily contribute to global warming at
all (depending on the source of energy used, say, hydroelectric or
nuclear.)

> > Again, if you keep takeoff speed to 200 Kmph or so,
>
> If you use magic fairy dust it also ceases to become a problem too. Both are
> easier said than done.

Great. Where can I get magic fairy dust?

> > From: Ian Woollard [mailto:ian.woollard@...]
> > a) make the brakes smaller by using water/steam cooling rather than
> > air cooling (jettison water after successful takeoff- water is only
> > needed if you change your mind during takeoff)
> > b) use high pressure tyres
> > c) use a reinforced runway
>
> A) That would work but it won't stop the tire exploding, nor will it stop it
> throwing up chips of dirt, stone, concrete, and metal to chip/gouge away at
> Skylon's ceramic heatshield.

So don't leave chips of dirt, stone, concrete and metal on the runway.

> B&C) What do you think they designed HOTOL to work on? Rough dirt? ;)

HOTOL used a rocket assisted sled. The Skylon runway is described as
'heavily reinforced' and the tyres run at extremely high pressure.

> Besides, increases in tire pressure means a decrease in Mean Time Between
> Blowouts. ^.^

No.

> John

--
-Ian Woollard

"In theory there is no difference between theory and practice, but in
practice there is."
"a society in which people can do and say what they want will also
tend to be one in which the most efficient solutions win" - Paul
Graham