[ExI] Skylon as first stage.

[Eugen Leitl]

On Thu, Apr 21, 2011 at 07:41:18AM -0700, Keith Henson wrote:
> On Thu, Apr 21, 2011 at 2:03 AM, Eugen Leitl <eugen at leitl.org> wrote:
> 
> snip
> 
> > On the Moon, you can use linear motor/magnetic levitation launches.
> > http://www.physorg.com/news91272157.html
> 
> MagLev is *so* 70s.

Turbines and ICEs are *so* steampunk. But they continue to provide the bulk
of our power. Hybrids are 110 years old http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lohner-Porsche_Mixte_Hybrid
yet they haven't quite happened.

Maglev doesn't yet quite exist apart from test lines
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maglev_(transport)
nevermind more advanced approaches like mass driver,
or launch loop, or space fountain.

We've got great technology in the pipeline, but the first
steps in SPS will be quite pedestrian, using technology
more than 1000 years old: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket#In_antiquity

“The future is already here, it is just unevenly distributed.”