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Suppose you needed to put up 2000tons/month. How easy would it be to scale up production of such vehicles?
How many unemployed or underemployed shipyards are are there around the world? I don't think that's an issue, especially if you can reuse Stage One (see below)
If you're launching thousands of tons of steel alongside your cargo, then it might make sense to reuse that steel in SPS construction.
The 'Sea Dragon' variety of BDB is a two-stage-to-LEO system. The heavy, 1" thick steel body of Stage One (propelled by LOX/kerozine) is supposed to parachute into the ocean, where it is recovered. In fact, it would be so solidly built it probably would survive and be reusable after refurbishment. If so, the shipyards are unlikely to be overloaded with work.
Stage Two, more conventionally built (although still very large) and probably propelled by LOX/LH2, would be expected to enter orbit with the payload, so perhaps something can be done with it although I'm not convinced just how useful it will be.
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It just comes down to how much would it cost to Develop and make this BRAND new class of launchers.
Remember that all the people who had worked on them before are now either Dead,retired or close to retirement. There will be no experience to call upon to make them.
If a shuttle C only requires a Billion or so to design the actual shuttle c as you do not need to change the configuration what would the development be for something the size of a SeaDragon.
Though i would love to see the SeaDragon idea come to fruitition i dont think any pressure group or political body will swing it. It simply is much bigger than any planned use for it other than space Power Satelites.
Chan eil mi aig a bheil ùidh ann an gleidheadh an status quo; Tha mi airson cur às e.
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Though it could also lob to space in one go most of a really big space hotel.
Chan eil mi aig a bheil ùidh ann an gleidheadh an status quo; Tha mi airson cur às e.
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Richard Branson’s Space Empire Is a Waning Dream
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