Is a space plane a posibility?

Question

Is it within our technological capability to construct an aircraft that can fly off the runway with jet engines etc, and fly into Earth orbit using some other means (obviously jets don't work above 130,000 or so feet).

Answer 1

http://www.popsci.com/military-aviation-...

Answer 2

Into low ballistic curves above most of the atmosphere..Yes.

Into orbit...No.

Answer 3

If such a craft were to be built it would be too heavy to carry any significant payload. The fuel tank(s) alone would take up most of the weight allowance. It's just not practiacl. Sorry.

Answer 4

It's possible, but it requires a lot of fuel.  It's generally more fuel-efficient to get a vehicle to the highest point it must reach as quickly as possible, rather than slowly raise it to that point in steps. This is why the Space Shuttle is pushed directly into orbit after lift-off. On the way back, it's entirely feasible to proceed more gradually, since fuel isn't required for a descent, and so vehicles like the Space Shuttle can fly home like fixed-wing gliders.

So the basic problem is getting enough fuel on board to allow a gradual ascent into orbit without making the vehicle so heavy that it can't get there.  Right now, that's an extremely difficult problem. Indeed, it has always been a serious problem for spaceflight. It's a direct function of the planet's gravity; perhaps if the Earth were larger with stronger gravity, we might never have undertaken spaceflight at all, just because of the astronomical fuel requirements (no pun intended).

Answer 5

The way you asked the question was referring to a true spaceplane - one that takes off like an aircraft, enters orbit as a spacecraft, then returns and lands on a runway - perhaps with fuel and capability to proceed to an alternate like a real aircraft.

We do not have this yet. But the capability certainly exists. It would be expensive - and probably that's the reason it does not exist yet. There is no real justification to invest in such a vehicle at this time. It's mission is not needed for anything, really. It's cheaper and safer and more efficient to use normal launch vehicles to get up there and back, and the Shuttle is re-useable. So - possible? Yes. But there's not sufficient incentive to do it.

Answer 6

Funny you should ask, I had a dream a couple of nights ago that i went on one and it went to near the moon and back again. It was well fun  it had big windows and a glass roof so you could see heaps. was good til it crashed on return, but dont worry everybody was ok...

Answer 7

Its not just a possibility- its a reality. There are two orbital spaceplanes successfully flown to date- the United States Space Shuttle and the Soviet Buran, have used their wings to provide aerobraking to return from orbit and to provide lift to allow them to land on a runway like conventional aircraft.

Answer 8

yes it is possible with current technology, but there are issues when technology is pushed to that limit. Burt Rutan did build a plane that won the X prize in that it went into space, returned to earth, and went back to space with in two weeks. and while the pilot didn't carry any passengers, he did carry the FAA equivalent of two passengers which was a requirement of the X prize. nasa is currently experimenting with a scale model of a possible space liner that if it is built and becomes operational would allow one to fly from New York to Tokyo in about 2 hours. it would take off like an airplane, and fly into space using a scram jet engine, and then fly back into the atmosphere switching back to a regular jet engine when teh speed got low enough.

Answer 9

Yes.

All you need to do is design a plane with jets and rocket engines and enough fuel capacity for both to perform the required mission/job that can take off under its own power (using jets, props, turboprops, etc) and when you get to the desired altitude and attitude (pitch, angle, etc) you fire the rockets.  You can use those rocket engines to get around in space and you can even have manuevering thrusters for the purpose of minor adjustments in space.  I would assume jets would be the best pick for terrestrial flight and you should have some way of shielding them (retractable heat shields, etc).  I can see props being too clumsy to use.

Answer 10

Well Virgin has a new project called Virgin Galactic which is going to allow sub-orbital space travel for the public by 2009 and later into the future; orbital space travel .

Answer 11

With current technology, the answer to your question is NO. This is like trying to combine a subway and an elevator.

Regards,

Dan

Answer 12

Of course it's possible, but it's not practical. It is still too expensive as of today.  They're working on finding a way to make it cheaper and easier. But why do it anyway? Jets are fast, cheaper to fly, and are working just fine. There's no practical reason to use a ton of energy to get high enough to reach space, only to fly there at 17,000 mph for a few minutes and then come back down.  Commercial airliners are even beginning to become impractical thanks to the stupid fuel prices. So, space travel for the masses is out of the question for now, unless they invent an engine that burns a non-petroleum fuel.

Answer 13

yep, definitely a possibility.  space planes are a great idea.  we need something....something, ummm, i don't know, maybe something like a space shuttle.  oh wait! THEY ALREADY EXIST!!!