No sponsorship would appear to be a pretty fundamental problem given that even a basic feasibility study would cost millions of dollars.  I’ve read that NASA and the old Soviet Union conducted studies but I think that these have all been discontinued so has anyone seriously taken up the mantle of this work since?  In other words, are there any groups that have serious funding to undertake research on this type of project? 

Can anyone help answer the question as I'm very curious?

Regards,

Toby

Hi,

Has anyone been following the developments of Virgin to develop a cheap, re-usable space rocket that will lower the cost (and risk) of getting into space?

See the following link -

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/science/nature/7205445.stm

Given that the major impediment to the LiftPort is that it is financially unviable when being lifted with a NASA shuttle has anyone considered re-running the cost calculations using the estimates from Virgin?  I would be interested in this as a small research topic if anyone is interested.

We may find that the pre-cursor technology required is closer at hand than we may realise.

Regards,

Toby 
 
 

Hi,

Has anyone been following the developments of Virgin to develop a cheap, re-usable space rocket that will lower the cost (and risk) of getting into space?

See the following link -

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/science/nature/7205445.stm

Given that the major impediment to the LiftPort is that it is financially unviable when being lifted with a NASA shuttle has anyone considered re-running the cost calculations using the estimates from Virgin?  I would be interested in this as a small research topic if anyone is interested.

We may find that the pre-cursor technology required is closer at hand than we may realise.

Regards,

Toby

Hi,

Has anyone been following the developments of Virgin to develop a cheap, re-usable space rocket that will lower the cost (and risk) of getting into space?

See the following link -

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/science/nature/7205445.stm

Given that the major impediment to the LiftPort is that it is financially unviable when being lifted with a NASA shuttle has anyone considered re-running the cost calculations using the estimates from Virgin?  I would be interested in this as a small research topic if anyone is interested.

We may find that the pre-cursor technology required is closer at hand than we may realise.

Regards,

Toby