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NASA's SR-71 research aircraft.
From my work visit to the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center.
From my work visit to the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center.
Category Photography / All
Species Unspecified / Any
Size 1280 x 854px
File Size 141.5 kB
I don't know where you're getting your information...
X-15
Spacecraft delta v: 2,450 m/s (8,030 ft/sec)=8820 km/h
MiG-25 Foxbat
For pure speed, with no payload, test pilot Mikhail M. Komarov averaged 2,981.5 km/h over a 500 km closed circuit on 5 October 1967.
Maximum speed:
High altitude: Mach 3.2 (3,600 km/h, 2,170 mph); Mach 2.83 (3,200 km/h, 1,920 mph) continuous engine limit
Low altitude: 1,200 km/h (648 knots, 746 mph)
X-15
Spacecraft delta v: 2,450 m/s (8,030 ft/sec)=8820 km/h
MiG-25 Foxbat
For pure speed, with no payload, test pilot Mikhail M. Komarov averaged 2,981.5 km/h over a 500 km closed circuit on 5 October 1967.
Maximum speed:
High altitude: Mach 3.2 (3,600 km/h, 2,170 mph); Mach 2.83 (3,200 km/h, 1,920 mph) continuous engine limit
Low altitude: 1,200 km/h (648 knots, 746 mph)
I... want one. For some odd, totally impractical reason, just... want one.
Exceptionally saved, beauty pic. And faved.
You gotta wonder. Apollo accomplished a stone-miracle, getting to the Moon. Can't
dis it.
But the arc of the 'technology curve' that built that plane--and the X-15--could probably
have given us workable ground-to-orbit cap within another few years. Maybe even
affordable?
Damn. Just sitting there, it looks like it wants to be in orbit. 'Nuff said.
FB.
Exceptionally saved, beauty pic. And faved.
You gotta wonder. Apollo accomplished a stone-miracle, getting to the Moon. Can't
dis it.
But the arc of the 'technology curve' that built that plane--and the X-15--could probably
have given us workable ground-to-orbit cap within another few years. Maybe even
affordable?
Damn. Just sitting there, it looks like it wants to be in orbit. 'Nuff said.
FB.
No dissent. Physics is inflexible. Politics and economics almost as much so.
A long time back, every space program on the planet put the priority on rockets for
some pretty solid reasons. The dreams of a Canadian SF writer aren't about to
change that.
And for heavy lift, payloads over 20 tons: gotta be rockets. When/if we'll ever see
true HLVs, that gets us back to politics and economics again.
Still: For manned flight, the Buff/X-15 launch mode seems considerably practical, and
maybe even affordable? A 'Super-B2' type carrier, plus some manner of upgraded
X-15-type craft (more fuel, bigger engines), and we can leave the Proton/Soyuz to
the tourists.
Not quite the classic GTO idea--fly from runway then boost for LEO--but ought
to work just fine. If, that is, the priorities can shift towards a different philosophy of
space flight (ie., high volume of lower-cost launches, improved safety, more
'airline-model' support infrastructure, insurable operations like airlines).
Lemme see that budget. We gotta have a few spare billions for development somewhere
in here...
Okay, maybe we'd better not put an SF writer in charge of a space program. Let's
let the engineers do what they do best. *
FB.
* And I'll do what I do best: write about a GTO vehicle. Stay tuned:
old short story about this is in the rewrite/editing cycle. I smell
furs in space novel. But when don't I? :- )
A long time back, every space program on the planet put the priority on rockets for
some pretty solid reasons. The dreams of a Canadian SF writer aren't about to
change that.
And for heavy lift, payloads over 20 tons: gotta be rockets. When/if we'll ever see
true HLVs, that gets us back to politics and economics again.
Still: For manned flight, the Buff/X-15 launch mode seems considerably practical, and
maybe even affordable? A 'Super-B2' type carrier, plus some manner of upgraded
X-15-type craft (more fuel, bigger engines), and we can leave the Proton/Soyuz to
the tourists.
Not quite the classic GTO idea--fly from runway then boost for LEO--but ought
to work just fine. If, that is, the priorities can shift towards a different philosophy of
space flight (ie., high volume of lower-cost launches, improved safety, more
'airline-model' support infrastructure, insurable operations like airlines).
Lemme see that budget. We gotta have a few spare billions for development somewhere
in here...
Okay, maybe we'd better not put an SF writer in charge of a space program. Let's
let the engineers do what they do best. *
FB.
* And I'll do what I do best: write about a GTO vehicle. Stay tuned:
old short story about this is in the rewrite/editing cycle. I smell
furs in space novel. But when don't I? :- )
This conversation just paid for itself. Got some new design ideas for the GTO vehicle
in the story. Hey Lockheed, you thought about this one yet?
(Beyond doubt, yes. Aerospace engineers have *much* more imagination than
SF writers.)
SRBs, we need some SRBs after all. Point well-taken about energy needed to get
to LEO. Dives for AutoCAD and scribbles...
(Color me immensely interested in anything to do with SpaceX, BTW. Jealous
Canuck is jealous.)
FB.
in the story. Hey Lockheed, you thought about this one yet?
(Beyond doubt, yes. Aerospace engineers have *much* more imagination than
SF writers.)
SRBs, we need some SRBs after all. Point well-taken about energy needed to get
to LEO. Dives for AutoCAD and scribbles...
(Color me immensely interested in anything to do with SpaceX, BTW. Jealous
Canuck is jealous.)
FB.
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