Why Bezos’ rocket is unprecedented–and worth taking seriously

Re:Why Bezos’ rocket is unprecedented–and worth taking serio... by logfromblammo on Tuesday September 13, 2016 @02:22PM (#12490919)

Most of the acceleration track floats between San Cristobal (Galapagos Islands) and Ecuador. Near the end, it ascends Mount Chimborazo to 6000m and punches through a plasma window separating only 0.46 atm external air pressure from the low vacuum inside the accelerator.

At our current level of technology, I estimate this would cost at least $200 billion in capital expenses.

A neutral-buoyancy under-ocean train between two cities otherwise un-connectable by terrestrial transit would prove some of the necessary technologies. Liverpool to Belfast would probably work. Miami to Havana to Cancun would work, if not for politics.

Relevant search terms: "vactrain", "StarTram", "transatlantic tunnel"

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Why Bezos’ rocket is unprecedented–and worth taking serio... by astrodust on Tuesday September 13, 2016 @04:23PM (#12491897)

You'd be better off putting that money into space elevator research.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Why Bezos’ rocket is unprecedented–and worth taking serio... by logfromblammo on Tuesday September 13, 2016 @05:14PM (#12492312)

I was just explaining how possible it is. I am skeptical that anything like it will ever actually be built on Earth.

Other non-rocket launch technologies do seem more promising. If you could build a mass driver launcher between Galapagos and Ecuador, you could likely build a launch loop in the same spot for less capital, less operating cost, and higher capacity.

[ Parent | on HN ]