Posted on 05/31/2018 12:44:09 PM PDT by ColdOne
Does this exist?
The question is do we have the military launch platform for that payload? This assumes a ballistic missile trajectory for payload delivery on a target at long range. Minuteman III could be close at 9 tons capacity. Perhaps something in the pipeline developed but not deployed?
If one for example, used a Falcon 9 with a booster-return-to-launch-site flight profile to place a payload into Earth orbit, that would allow parking better than 13 metric tons to low orbit. An alternative booster-recovery-at-sea option allows 18 tons LEO. Would also allow dropping off some satellites into orbit and still carry a low-observable payload. An expendable-booster launch could be good for almost 23 tons.
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