On Oct 12, 12:26 pm, "James A. Robbins"  wrote:   
   > On 10/11/2010 11:09 PM, Jeffrey Kaplan wrote:   
   >   
   > >> Go ahead, I'll wait.  How is it looking?   
   >   
   > > I'm not an engineer, I never claimed to be.  I can't build the thing.   
   >   
   > I am, although its EE and not aerospace.   
   >   
   > > That's why it would have multiple engine types.  From what little I do   
   >   
   > I am also a licensed pilot.  If you have multiple engine types then you   
   > have to carry them with you, thus adding weight.   
   >   
   > The one thing that might really work well is a rail gun launcher.  It   
   > probably would not get you supersonic, but it could get you above the   
   > thickest of the atmosphere and a good speed boost.  It's probably too   
   > expensive to build in comparison to booster rockets.  Maintenance would   
   > probably also be a problem.  Just imagine maintaining a, say, 20 mile   
   > long structure built on the side of a high mountain, throughout the   
   > winter.  Just keeping it free from snow and ice would be a problem.   
   > --   
   > James A. Robbins   
   > Network Engineer   
   > The Ohio State University   
   http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/Cool-Astronomy/2010/0914/NASA-c   
   nsidering-rail-gun-launch-system   
   NASA considering rail gun launch system   
   Rail guns, which use a magnetic field to accelerate a mass to high   
   speeds, are being looked at by NASA as a potential space launch   
   system.   
   By Nancy Atkinson, Universe Today / September 14, 2010   
   Dan Dassow   
   --- SBBSecho 2.12-Win32   
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