It’s a bit funny to answer 15 years later… but it’s better than nothing. The only way JP Aerospace’s idea could work is, first, to get rid of the solar panel and instead use a large mirror in orbit (with its respective other mirrors to focus the beam onto the spacecraft) which would provide the sunlight. Now we have much more energy available than before. Second, for this system to compete with, or better yet, completely outclass any rocket, it must operate with air-breathing engines. The best ion engine I see for this application is the VASIMR. As its name suggests, one of its special features is its great adaptability, something very necessary for this spacecraft, and since it doesn’t have anodes, it doesn’t suffer from any kind of erosion. With that, we have the perfect ATO. It would leave any rocket in the dust. Not only because of the cost per kilogram, but also, if we talk about safety, even if we use hydrogen to inflate it, it would still be much safer than a rocket. And of course, there’s also the fact of its beauty in its simplicity. It’s like the infrastructure of the future. And combined with Skyhook, it would be the ultimate infrastructure between planets and asteroids.
h0nesy
Karma: 4
How have you felt on this platform? really work? Does it truly offer more than another group on any other social network?
This isn’t a message from a moderator or anyone on the Less Worng team. I’m just someone with a question.
In my opinion, I do feel like I contribute. I’d even say I feel like an ant here. Like when you listened to the eighth-semester students chatting while you were still in your second semester.