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Can any planes go into space?
Planes can and have flown into space for over 50 years – though not the kind you see at the airport. That’s because conventional planes need air for both propulsion and lift, and space is essentially a vacuum.
Can we get to space without rockets?
A space elevator is a proposed type of space transportation system. Its main component is a ribbon-like cable (also called a tether) anchored to the surface and extending into space above the level of geosynchronous orbit. Vehicles can then climb the tether and reach orbit without the use of rocket propulsion.
Why do rockets work in space but airplanes don t?
Most rockets use high-speed gases. These gases push the rockets up and away from Earth. They push the rocket up into space where there is no air. Remember: rockets do not need air to lift them up as planes do.
Can a rail gun reach space?
The system calls for a two-mile- long rail gun that will launch a scramjet, which will then fly to 200,000 feet. The scramjet will then fire a payload into orbit and return to Earth. The process is more complex than a rocket launch, but engineers say it’s also more flexible.
Would a railgun work in space?
According to Space, the electromagnetic railgun peaked at Mach 6, which means six times the speed of sound. If astronauts can station at the moon and mine resources, the said speed is just a fraction “slower” than the escape velocity. Thereafter, the electromagnetic railgun can toss the material into space.
Are there any rockets that do not use rockets?
The short version is, there are no current space launch systems which do not use rockets. The most practical one we know of appears to be space guns, which have been successfully used for sub-orbital launches (but are not practical for human spaceflight). A jet engine can only accept air at around half the speed of sound.
How is a rocket different from an airplane?
Even a spacecraft in a low orbit is about 125 miles high. This is far above the thick air that we are used to. It is much higher than any plane can reach. You need a rocket to get to even the lowest Earth orbit. So, how is a rocket different from an airplane?
Do you need air to take a rocket to space?
They push the rocket up into space where there is no air. Remember: rockets do not need air to lift them up as planes do. Image above: Rocket Carries a Fuel Tank. Fuel and Oxygen are Mixed Together and Ignited Combustion Chamber.
Are there any alternatives to a rocket launch?
A number of alternatives to rockets have been proposed. In some systems, such as a combination launch system, skyhook, rocket sled launch, rockoon, or air launch, a portion of the total delta-v may be provided, either directly or indirectly, by using rocket propulsion.