/sci/ - Science & Math

I really like the huge variation of shit the Russians consider stacking on-top of an Energia core. I've started to grow fond of the idea of an in-line vertical stack lifting body TSTO. SpaceX has shown that you don't even have to expend boosters to do it, you can use Kero/LOX boosters and a Kero/LOX core and if you could build a stable un-moving platform in the ocean you could get your core stage back too. In the future I'd expect a few of the bigger space companies to contract with oil drilling companies to set up launch or landing pads made of modified drilling rigs, it's probably the only easy way to land reusable core stages and it would give you the advantage of being as close to the equator as you can possibly get.