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To: Blood of Tyrants

Why not takeoff with the hydrogen tank partially filled and the oxygen tank empty, and then fill both tanks via aerial refueling. That should allow for much greater payload to orbit. It probably would require some new tanker technology to handle the low temperature liquids. Even just filling the LOX tank and not the much colder liquid hydrogen tank (should that prove to be too difficult) in the air would give you much better mass to orbit performance.


3 posted on 08/19/2014 1:09:32 PM PDT by Jeff F
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To: Jeff F

Since the tanker would necessarily fly at a much lower speed and lower altitude, I can’t see the advantage of developing the complex technology involved in mid air LOX and liquid hydrogen transfer.


6 posted on 08/19/2014 1:41:07 PM PDT by Blood of Tyrants (The cure has become worse than the disease. Support an end to the WOD now.)
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