re: #266 danarchy

Space X’s rockets are only reusable 10-20 times. I haven’t looked into the stratolaunch at all, but am assuming it essentially replaces the first rocket stage. If that is the case, over time I could see where it could be more cost effective than even space X.

I have my doubts. For one thing the second stage body is going to have to be a lot stronger and hence more massive to deal with the lateral loads produced by being suspended horizontally in flight. Then there’s all the other shit that goes with an airplane that large, maintenance on six turbojets, hydraulics for all those control surfaces, a presumably (maybe not) human flight crew.