• ColeSloth@discuss.tchncs.de
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    7 days ago

    Build a large enough magnetic rail launcher and you could save shit tons of fuel. Get a ship doing 2000 mph before it leaves the ground and needs its rockets and you’ll have a pretty good head start.

      • ColeSloth@discuss.tchncs.de
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        6 days ago

        I mean, that’s kinda still just adding on weight and another “stage” to the rocket. A scram jet hauling a rocket ship will use tons of fuel.

        • wonderingwanderer@sopuli.xyz
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          5 days ago

          I thought scramjets were supposed to be really fuel-efficient? Just launch them with your gauss cannon idea so that they don’t need much fuel to get up to speed.

          Maybe you’re right about the weight though. I’m not an engineer.

          • ColeSloth@discuss.tchncs.de
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            5 days ago

            They’re efficient for what they are but think of it more like a gas pickup truck getting 30 mpg would be considered very efficient. But that would be terrible for a compact car.

            Also, scram jets only get efficient once they’re going fast enough.

            • wonderingwanderer@sopuli.xyz
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              5 days ago

              Yeah that’s why you do multi-stage like conventional jet -> ramjet -> scramjet

              But again, yeah if it needs to carry a rocket then it might be unfeasible. We could try your gauss cannon idea, that sounds fun. Like a maglev train, but shaped like those rides from roller coaster tycoon where you could launch people to their deaths. Except instead of crashing, the rocket kicks on mid-flight. It could work.

              • ColeSloth@discuss.tchncs.de
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                5 days ago

                So you want a giant ass jet that can carry millions of pounds to carry a giant ass ram jet, scram jet, and rocket ship with boosters and rocket fuel?

                Also, the thrust required from that jet is completely impossible. Let alone how wildly inificient all that would be. Every step of the way. Like, this is truly a God awful horrible idea. Like, the worst. Also, it’s not good.

                • wonderingwanderer@sopuli.xyz
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                  5 days ago

                  I already agreed that it’s unfeasible, I don’t know why you’re getting so upset. I literally said your gauss cannon idea is better, chill out.