Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Launching Spacecraft From Aircraft

Posted by timothy on from the while-you're-up-there dept.

Embedded Geek writes: "New Scientist has an article on a proposed launch scheme named 'Bladerunner' (presumably, someone is a P.K. Dick fan) that would use a pneumatic launcher to shove a launch vehicle out the back of a military transport aircraft at high altitude (40,000 feet/12,000 meters). As with all the new systems (such as this one) the goal is to reduce launch costs to more reasonable levels (to about $6K/kilo from today's $11-44K). An existing Pegasus system uses dedicated B-52s with the vehicle slung underneath, but Bladerunner would be an improvement by not requiring dedicated planes (the launcher could be set up on a transport in 24 hours) and also could accomodate larger vehicles (since it wouldn't be slung underneath)."

4 of 149 comments (clear)

  1. How about I . . . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    launch my FIST, right up your ASS!

  2. Re:(OFFTOPIC) I don�t want to be picky, but... by albino+eatpod · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    I just speed read the first 50 pages, couldn't see anything in there. They're referred to as Bounty Hunters. Still, I'm fairly certain that the term was in the book somewhere.

  3. Aaaaannnndd by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Twang it into space!

  4. Re:(OFFTOPIC) I don�t want to be picky, but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    I think it just means the creator of the craft is a big Harrison Ford fan, and people are reading too far into this. I mean, who _isn't_ a Harrison Ford fan?