[inquest]

I have a question for you, or anyone else who might be knowledgeable on the subject, and forgive me if the idea sounds whacky - I make no pretensions to engineering expertise.

Is it at all feasible to design an airframe that can handle orbital-type speeds through the upper atmosphere, while using a jet or other turbine-style propulsion system? The reason I ask is I'm just trying to think of ways we can get into space with a minimum of on-board rocket fuel (not that I'm the only one, of course). I figure a maser link with an orbiting spacecraft might be able to provide, or help provide, the necessary energy. What'cha all think? (please, no tomatoes)

[Movemout]

"Is it at all feasible to design an airframe that can handle orbital-type speeds through the upper atmosphere, while using a jet or other turbine-style propulsion system? The reason I ask is I'm just trying to think of ways we can get into space with a minimum of on-board rocket fuel (not that I'm the only one, of course). "

Possible? Yes. Feasible? Not yet proven. Scramjets are going through the experimental phase with projects like Hyper X. NASP was supposed to demonstrate this capability but bit off more than it could chew.