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Sub Orbital Resupply

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  • Sub Orbital Resupply

    Had another intense dream today. Two flights, one of 4 21st century Hind size attack helicopters (think Super S-67) and the other of 4 21st century Su-25 type, headed down into South America to stop a gold heist and a bank robbery respectively. A runway sabotage at the allied airbase destroyed several other aircraft and left mine severely damaged. It had taken us two days to fly down there, for whatever dream reason, so replacement aircraft were immediately necessary, so I asked about launching a rocket from the factory with 4 cocooned helicopters for an air drop. My technical expert said sure it had been tested, but it's a bit extreme, but if you want to go ahead with it, it would be 8 hours prep from order to launch...and then the birds would be there relatively quick.

    AHHHH, the stuff that dreams are made of........................

    ..................BUT THINK ABOUT IT FOR A MOMENT.

    These days, with as complex and expensive as rockets are (and something for a task of the above might be bigger than a Delta IV Heavy), it is probably preposterous to even consider something today.

    But perhaps in the early days, maybe back when we thought that modern war would involve heavy tanks hurling atomic shells at each other, were "we" thinking of all the great things that ballistic rockets could do for us?

    For delivery of those supplies when they have to be there, absolutely, today.

  • #2
    Assuming the abusurd cost of using ballistic missiles for logistics isn't an issue, there are still a couple problems I forsee. Chief among them is the ability to quickly load a variety of supplies into the rocket and launch it.

    Rockets are very touchy about payload weights, balance, and size. Generally, each rocket has to be customized to the payload it is launching, and the target it is trying to reach. This is particularly true with solid fueled rockets that don't have the ability to throttle. They are typically either burning at 100% or 0%, this is why you sometimes see solid fueled rockets doing circles, they are burning off excess fuel. Liquid fueled rockets can throttle to adjust their trajectory more easily, but can't be easily stored with fuel onboard. Older US ICBMs were a nightmare to keep ready to launch at a moment's notice because they used liquid fuel that required constant maintainence on the rockets and the cryogenics required to keep them functional.

    Unfotunately, unless the "Ballistic Supply Delivery System" knows exactly what to deliver, and where to deliver it weeks or months in advance, it would almost certainly be easier (and cheaper) to load the supplies on a cargo jet and fly them to their destination.

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    • #3
      Well, one could prep specific "payload cocoons" with standard loads in such a way (with ballast) that they'd each have an identical center of gravity and identical weight regardless of specific content. Place those cocoons as complete payload including fairing - the cocoon - on a rocket trimmed for that standard load, and it should work.

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      • #4
        Originally posted by kato View Post
        Well, one could prep specific "payload cocoons" with standard loads in such a way (with ballast) that they'd each have an identical center of gravity and identical weight regardless of specific content. Place those cocoons as complete payload including fairing - the cocoon - on a rocket trimmed for that standard load, and it should work.
        or use a space plane/ ramjet aircraft to drop the cargo from sub orbit.

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        • #5
          Originally posted by kato View Post
          Well, one could prep specific "payload cocoons" with standard loads in such a way (with ballast) that they'd each have an identical center of gravity and identical weight regardless of specific content. Place those cocoons as complete payload including fairing - the cocoon - on a rocket trimmed for that standard load, and it should work.
          Let's just start leisurely building up supplies in LEO during peacetime, so that they can be rapidly deorbited anywhere in the world should the need arise! We can create Space Marine Expeditionary Units. If they are placed at a similar altitude as the ISS that would give them an orbital period of 90 minutes. If someone needs a swift kick to the rear, you just drop marines (and supplies) on them!

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          • #6
            It would be expensive to find a way to keep Marines in top physical condition in space. It would require a large artificial gravity space station. This station would be an attractive target to an anti satellite missile.
            The ultra fast ramjet aircraft has to be the way to go.
            Last edited by surfgun; 19 Jul 14,, 00:35.

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            • #7
              Ramjet deployed "areospaceborne" troopers and space marines deployed in a manner similar to Star Ship Troopers with stealthed ablative decoying cocoons. back them up with fire support provided via rods from god....

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              • #8
                Originally posted by surfgun View Post
                It would be expensive to find a way to keep Marines in top physical condition in space. It would require a large artificial gravity space station. This station would be an attractive target to an anti satellite missile.
                The ultra fast ramjet aircraft has to be the way to go.
                Isn't that what Prompt Global Strike (PGS) was all about?
                "There is never enough time to do or say all the things that we would wish. The thing is to try to do as much as you can in the time that you have. Remember Scrooge, time is short, and suddenly, you're not there any more." -Ghost of Christmas Present, Scrooge

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                • #9
                  Originally posted by SteveDaPirate View Post
                  Let's just start leisurely building up supplies in LEO during peacetime, so that they can be rapidly deorbited anywhere in the world should the need arise! We can create Space Marine Expeditionary Units. If they are placed at a similar altitude as the ISS that would give them an orbital period of 90 minutes. If someone needs a swift kick to the rear, you just drop marines (and supplies) on them!
                  Yea Baby!!!!!!!!!



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