Posted on Mar 6, 2019
Rockets: A Viable Way to Transport Our Products? - InSpaceNews
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Posted 6 y ago
Responses: 3
This is, indeed, an interesting subject, but there are technical drawbacks for using a rocket for another mode of "transportation" as was delineated in the author's article. The cost to move 100 lbs. of goods into low Earth orbit is about $1,000,000. The economics, in today's environment is cost prohibitive for general products or goods. Further, if one wanted to send goods to our Moon for a moon base, it would require more than money... The rocket must carry its own fuel to move through the launch to escape velocity, eject its empty tanks and continue to the moon. Then there is the landing on the moon (and for the sake of discussion, let's use the rocket as the sole device.). The rocket then must use its own fuel to land vertically on the moon then something or someone must unload the rocket... If it is a one-way trip (meaning the rocket is drone maneuvered), then it might work, but at substantial one-way cost. this would be the same except if the trip was to Mars for a one-way drone-based rocket (larger fuel tanks, larger rocket.) Add space pilots and landing capability and the costs soar! I don't see rockets as a cost-effective means of moving general goods to Earth orbit or beyond. It won't be in my lifetime, but there will come a time when space travel will occur through some form of anti-gravity propulsion... Just my view.
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