A passenger liner based on the Virgin Galactic model of manned spaceflight would allow aircraft to leave earth’s atmosphere, which makes travel far more energy-efficient, environmentally friendly and far, far faster.
I'm curious about the assertion that London to Sydney via space costs less energy than flying there conventionally. I can see that a spacecraft doesn't have to worry about losing energy countering air resistance once it gets into space, but would have guessed that it would cost more energy to get into space in the first place.
I'm curious about the assertion that London to Sydney via space costs less energy than flying there conventionally. I can see that a spacecraft doesn't have to worry about losing energy countering air resistance once it gets into space, but would have guessed that it would cost more energy to get into space in the first place.
Anyone got any figures?