Using maglev for launch boost

 ( MAB part 9, part 8 here)

There was something somewhere, I forget where, that said there was a study about that.

Speculation alert.

Now, imagine this:  You could use this maglev to accelerate a launcher that would have enough lift to get airborne.

From that point, it would then switch to air breathing boost mode using beamed microwave energy from the ground.  This would take the craft upward according to Parkins doctoral thesis.  Not a traditional trajectory, but a rather steep one.  The idea is to get above the atmosphere. Parkins wanted to do a super burst of speed to get to orbit at that point.  But let's consider another possibility.

Instead of continuing at high acceleration from there, it releases a second stage and then returns to base to be launched again.  The idea here is to minimize the amount of jet power needed, and thus the amount of energy needed to get to the release point.  This is accomplished with the maglev and the minimized amount of mass needed to be lifted.

A thought just occurred to me.  Why not accumulate gases on the way up?  These would be used for the next rocket burst up to the release point.  A bit more mass for tanks and gas collection machinery, but you may need to do this because you will be going to rocket mode once you get high enough in the atmosphere.

The second stage is now considered as follows:

Would use a light weight design that would deliver a small payload to orbit.  A Centaur design is actually a bit bigger than I envision.  Anway, it may be a carbon composite design that was attempted with the X-33 system.  But since the design is minimized in terms of mass, it may have a better chance of working.

Also, you want to use the heat resistant tiles used on the Space Shuttle.  Nobody is onboard, so even if they fail, you only lose your vehicle.  In addition, there shouldn't be any foam strike possibility which caused the Shuttle Columbia loss.

Starting at row 16, look at various combinations of rocket formula using Centaur as a model, and Falcon 9 data from a recent post, result is that you may achieve reusability with a craft weighing as little as 20000 lbs. that will deliver 1000 kg to orbit.

Counting the MAB aeroshell, the entire wet mass of the vehicle on the ground could be comparable to an aircraft being launched from an aircraft carrier.  True, it will only deliver 1k kg to space, but it could launch frequently.  This could add up to a significant mass over time.

Update:

The x37b spacecraft doesn't weigh too much more than the minimum payload here.  The x37b was based upon the x40 which would be close to the 3000 lb payload listed above.  If 3000 lb is used, then the weight would be considerably more than an aircraft on an aircraft carrier.  But much less than a typical rocket.


Update:

Next in series here.  It jumps up to 12, so there's two missing.  The text on number 12 says there are only mentions, so it may not have been a full post.