DARPA's Hot Rod

Hello all:

DARPA's working on a Space Plane that could deliver a 2000lb payload to
2500nm, or put a smaller payload into orbit. See:

http://aviationnow.com/avnow/news/ch...s/09223top.xml

Many low-cost space launch concepts have been proposed over the years.
How practical is this one?

On 23 Sep 2003 20:52:00 -0700, (Eric Moore)
wrote:

Hello all:

DARPA's working on a Space Plane that could deliver a 2000lb payload to
2500nm, or put a smaller payload into orbit. See:

http://aviationnow.com/avnow/news/ch...s/09223top.xml

Many low-cost space launch concepts have been proposed over the years.
How practical is this one?


the thing I'm wondering is if they build it would the additional
goodies in the intakes bar it from taking a whole slew of time to
altitude, speed, and sustained altitude records. FOUR F100s (likely
-229s) with SEA LEVEL power at 100,000 feet in an 80,000lb aircraft
(below sixty if you leave the payload out and don't go full fuel).
The mind boggles.