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#1 2004-08-08 12:44:04
- Martian Republic
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- From: Haltom City- Dallas/Fort Worth
- Registered: 2004-06-13
- Posts: 855
Re: Another shuttle plan for space - There using a speed rail system to space
I found another suggestion for building a next generation shuttle. I thought it would be an interesting discussion to throw out there. Any coments or questions?
http://www.21stcenturysciencetech.com/a … glev2.html
Larry,
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#2 2004-08-08 14:31:25
- Rxke
- Member
- From: Belgium
- Registered: 2003-11-03
- Posts: 3,669
Re: Another shuttle plan for space - There using a speed rail system to space
Sorry to be so negative, but IMO this is totally, utterly crazy.
They want to build a low pressure tube all the way to the upper reaches of the atmosphere? I'd love to see them try. (not.) In fact, there's not one bit of info about it in the article, it's all about terrestrial trains...
Hmmm... Where did I see this before? Oh, yes: ERRORIST will love the low pressure-tube idea, GCNRevenger will pop a vein, if he sees this 
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#3 2004-08-09 09:07:44
- SpaceNut
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- From: New Hampshire
- Registered: 2004-07-22
- Posts: 29,436
Re: Another shuttle plan for space - There using a speed rail system to space
Interesting version of the space elevator.
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#4 2004-08-09 09:21:34
- Rxke
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- From: Belgium
- Registered: 2003-11-03
- Posts: 3,669
Re: Another shuttle plan for space - There using a speed rail system to space
MartianRepublic, I take (some of) my words back. Only now I noticed I can only read part of the article... (As in your topic about gravity, where I noticed the articles were suspiciously short, so I did a double-take on this subject...)
I guess it's a subscription kind of thing?
So I can't really comment on an article I didn't read 'till the end, do I?
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#5 2004-08-09 15:24:51
- Martian Republic
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- From: Haltom City- Dallas/Fort Worth
- Registered: 2004-06-13
- Posts: 855
Re: Another shuttle plan for space - There using a speed rail system to space
MartianRepublic, I take (some of) my words back. Only now I noticed I can only read part of the article... (As in your topic about gravity, where I noticed the articles were suspiciously short, so I did a double-take on this subject...)
I guess it's a subscription kind of thing?
So I can't really comment on an article I didn't read 'till the end, do I?
I run into a lot of off beat stuff from time to time and I thought it was an interesting peace to throw out there for a discussion.
One advantage with this system is you don't have to go all the way into space so you don't have to worry about space junk crashing into it.
Larry,
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#6 2004-10-08 07:37:36
- quasar777
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- Registered: 2002-05-05
- Posts: 135
Re: Another shuttle plan for space - There using a speed rail system to space
why not start way underwater, or underground?
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#7 2004-10-08 08:30:41
- GCNRevenger
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- From: Earth
- Registered: 2003-10-14
- Posts: 6,056
Re: Another shuttle plan for space - There using a speed rail system to space
*sees this* Ohhh boy... yet another "railway to space" idea
Um, "no" ... The tunnel needs to be roughly 40-50 miles high and about double that long to aproach orbital velocities and avoid the atmosphere almost entirely. If you stick the first mile or two of it underground, you've still got a 200,000ft high and 400,000ft long ramp with a tunnel on top to build. It ain't happening.
If you want to only go part way, you might be able to get a little speed going (low mach numbers tops), but the air resistance will really get you.
[i]"The power of accurate observation is often called cynicism by those that do not have it." - George Bernard Shaw[/i]
[i]The glass is at 50% of capacity[/i]
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#8 2004-10-08 12:24:40
- MarsDog
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- From: vancouver canada
- Registered: 2004-03-24
- Posts: 852
Re: Another shuttle plan for space - There using a speed rail system to space
Good idea;
The cables could be supported by a series of Maglevs going faster than orbital speed. The centrifugal force keeping it up.
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