[JohnBovenmyer]

He neglects discussing how to reenter his creation. His model, the Saturn V, wasn't designed for that task. He may have the power, but do his engines have the precise control needed for a soft landing? What design compromises will be needed and how much mass will he have to add to make that work?

I love the proposed power source. Even if we can build a space elevator, perhaps the most efficient possible way to LEO, a power plant like this would improve getting around the solar system. If it can be made to work it surely creates better options for spaceflight. Much of the power plant testing could be done safely on ground. The main ground test limitation would be the effects of variable acceleration, from zero to a few G, on the plumbing of the thing.

[tricky_k_1972]

He does discuss that I think, if you read the entire proposal. I just can't bring myself to post ten pages or more on FreeRepublic.

[tricky_k_1972]

He neglects discussing how to reenter his creation. His model, the Saturn V, wasn't designed for that task. He may have the power, but do his engines have the precise control needed for a soft landing? What design compromises will be needed and how much mass will he have to add to make that work?

Oops, found it. it is in the article above, only it's a really small one line:

Let's design the vehicle for a total DeltaV of 15 km per second. This is very high for a LEO booster, but the reason for it is to allow enough reaction mass to perform a powered descent. In other words, this is a true spaceship, that flies up and then can fly back down again.