Quote:
Originally Posted by Wavytone
It says the altitude of an airliner. That's just 10 km. A long way to go to get into orbit. And the choice of site suggests they don't understand much about the dynamics of getting it up there - there is s huge advantage to being near the equator and NZ is hopelessly too far south.
That and the whole approach to testing and launch reads rather amateurish to me - from a serious engineering background. As the Norks have also shown, this is far from trivial to get right.
Most likely it won't get off launch or if it does, will go kerplunk into the ocean rather prematurely.
Hope they have a reliable self-destruct button, they'll need it.
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Yup, don't remember the last rocket launch from Killara, amateurish or otherwise.
I interpreted the article to say it will initially have slow acceleration, but then clear to "airliner cruising height" in under a minute (considering Wavy's 10km is 32,000ft give or take). Article did not mention this was a target height or a limit, merely a marker for the lay-man (like when media use football fields as some standard of size). Even if it goes sub or low orbital, it's better than what Australia's done since Blue Streak...oh, hang on that was the Poms... better since our last HAB.
Shame on Australia, GO THE KIWI!
Anyone remember the Cape York rocket project, that of course never eventuated?