Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

The M2-F2 and HL-10 lifting body designs?

There's only so many basic shapes that actually work, this isn't like sci-fi where we can make interesting swooshy bits that look cool and have it still function.

So we've got capsules for no-glide landings, and things that look like a plane for use-cases that do want to glide during landing.

We're not going to get something that looks like an Eagle from Space: 1999 unless someone figures out a form of propulsion that's not dependent on the rocket equation or aerodynamics, such as pushing directly against the Earth's magnetic field or something.



We also had the mustard space plane, back in the 60’s.

The idea/sketch is one thing but the actual engineering and funding is something else.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/BAC_Mustard


Please stop linking to the mobile version of wikipedia.




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: