ESA study finds in-flight oxidiser collection possible

[hesham]

Hi,

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/07/10/215340/esa-study-finds-in-flight-oxidiser-collection-possible.html

 

[PMN1]

Are there any projected payload figures for this?

 

[Tophe]

Very surprising, thanks!
"the gross lift-off weight would be 1,035,000kg": twice an Airbus A380? Giant...
And taking air in flight to fill an orbiter then launch it... wow!

 

[mz]

Can I get funding for such studies as well? :'(

 

[fredgell]

Hmmm - not that exciting - Hotol work at Rolls started around 1986 and had progressed to
Skylon by around 2006.

Alan Bonds work easily predates this ESA 'study' and achieves exactly same end without a carrier aircraft.

Looks like an ESA attempt not to use Rolls/ReactionEngines design / platform via application of massive brute force and ignorance.

Fred