From: Monte Davis 

Adam  wrote:

>Humm... I'll pick my words with care. I have related why the UK ditched
>HOTOL because of the "take off from CONUS, drop out of space to release
>weapons & then back home for tea" scenario. It's why world + dog are
>watching the US/Australian hypersonic hydrogen/ethylene trials as a
>vehicle travelling at those speeds & heights is but a smallish booster
>rocket from the into space & back in time for tea.....idea.

Absent near-magical breakthroughs in engines or materials,I doubt we'll see
big hypersonic airbreathers for a long time to come --- whether as
uber-bombers, as Orient Express airliners, or as flyback first stages for
access to space. Everything (or more) you gain in speed, you lose in drag
(= need for ever more power) and in heating & intake challenges.
TANSTAAFL.


Monte Davis
http://montedavis.livejournal.com

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