Technical Paper
Synerjet Powered Spaceliner: Aircraft Operability and Economics “Without Wings and Wheels”
1998-09-28
985526
Transportation aspects of commercial spaceflight in the opening decades of the Twenty-first Century are envisioned. A specific Spaceliner concept is described, one predicated on combined-cycle airbreathing/rocket (“Synerjet”) propulsion. Its technical literature recorded heritage is reviewed. NASA's long-term goals, and its ongoing program relevant to this class of transportation concepts are discussed. A key observation, one of potentially distant, but great significance to the future of aviation and the air carrier industry, is that Spaceliner class systems, once available, can -- in addition to providing orbital payload service -- fly transglobally, conducting point-to-point terrestrial transportation services, all at ‘highest speed.” Providing an aviation/air-carrier perspective on all of this, in an annex paper attached, the candid views of an esteemed former airlines executive, the late Willis Player, are highlighted.