Sea Launch Rocket Explodes On Pad

SpaceflightNow ^ | 1/30/07

[macmedic892]

[Candor7]

Was the problem providing enough electrical power or were their heat problems?

[r9etb]

Was the problem providing enough electrical power or were their heat problems?

That and more. The power requirements would be tremendous. Also, you'd have to contend with extreme heating in the lower atmosphere.

Also, unless you could figure out some way to make the rail gun operate in a really excellent vacuum (difficult, since you'd need to exit into air), it's likely that the plasma surrounding a hypersonic projectile would short-circuit the rail gun.

Take into account also that for any useful payload mass, there'd be tremendous structural problems with the launch vehicle, which would be undergoing significant g forces.

Also, you'd be limited to "hard" payloads, which could stand the g's.

Finally, you'd need to put the thing into orbit, which would require a very large burn near apogee ... and the rocket motor would have to withstand heating and forces as well.

And, of course, you'd also need very robust instrumentation and a (probably hydrazine-based) maneuvering system, which also has to be designed for extreme g-loading.

Most of the launch vehicle mass would be taken up with the structure and propellants needed to move this thing into a useful orbit. You wouldn't have much room for payload.

Finally, the electromagnetic launcher would require very tight tolerances, which doesn't necessarily match up well with the sort of large, buffeted object you'd be trying to launch.

[endthematrix]

BTTT!