lughnasadh OP t1_j4gei3t wrote
Submission Statement
Stratolaunch has been around for a while. Way back in 2011, they were a contender with SpaceX to launch the earliest iterations of the Falcon rockets. While this aircraft was initially developed to launch rockets into space. Presumably, that hasn't worked out, but they see another opportunity - hypersonic research. China seems to have taken a lead in that, which must be funneling US DoD money in that direction.
I wonder will anyone ever crack the nut that is a successful horizontal space launch from aircraft? Virgin Galactic tried in recent weeks and failed. Using this approach for small payloads of 500 kg or so seems most likely to succeed. Among the many problems this approach has, is that building rockets (that are mainly fuel containers for their small payloads) that can take both horizontal and vertical stresses is hard.
Whybecauseoh t1_j4h5a9h wrote
Launches from aircraft to orbit have been going on for years actually.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/launch/L-1011-pegasus.html
Isord t1_j4j2k3y wrote
Technically anti-satellite missiles are also launched from aircraft into orbit.
Fun_Designer7898 t1_j4i8155 wrote
The statement about hypersonics might be misleading
China uses hypersonic boost glide vehicles, basically a rocket that propels to hypersonic speeds, nothing new, hypersonic speeds have been achieved in the 40's already when looking at rockets reaching orbit
The US has two working prototypes for a hypersonic cruise missile, which are much much more sophisticated because it uses air breathing engines to propel the missile
lughnasadh OP t1_j4i9j7u wrote
>>basically a rocket that propels to hypersonic speeds, nothing new
I'm not an expert on any of this, but many US military figures have commented the Chinese craft exceeds US capabilities.
Also, it can stay in orbit in space with nuclear weapons for prolonged periods of time, before re-entering Earth at hypersonic speeds - so this isn't something that anyone has been able to do before.
Fun_Designer7898 t1_j4i9xu1 wrote
The X-37 is literally able to stay in orbit for a very long time, with the ability to carry nukes. It was first introduced in 2010, so it's not something never done before lile you said
lughnasadh OP t1_j4iaadu wrote
>>The X-37
Yes, but it glides in to land at a leisurely pace, and would be easy to shoot down.
The danger with craft at hypersonic speeds is that they are almost impossible to shoot down or defend against.
Fun_Designer7898 t1_j4iava8 wrote
What? You know that it can drop nukes if it needs to, there is no need to re arm them because those are nuked we are talking about
Also, if china uses a missile, it needs to produce a new one, the US could drop the load AND make it land, reload and take off again
Hypersonic missiles can be intercepted, it will get easier with laser weapons
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