Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!rochester!kodak!uupsi!pbs.org!pstinson
From: pstinson@pbs.org
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re: Horizontal shuttle take-off
Message-ID: <1991Jan9.144545.11270@pbs.org>
Date: 9 Jan 91 19:45:44 GMT
References: <6432@fs3.cam.nist.gov>
Distribution: usa
Organization: PBS:Public Broadcasting Service, Alexandria, VA
Lines: 12

In article <6432@fs3.cam.nist.gov>, crosson@cam.nist.gov (Bob Crosson) writes:
> 
> Just a random thought; could the shuttle, minus the SRBs, take-off
> from a runway given enough fuel for the SSMEs?  I would ignore
> any damage to the runway caused by the engine exhaust.
> 
> Could the shuttle design be modified not too drastically to allow
> this if it's impossible now?

This is not possible for the current shuttle, but this sounds like the actual
mission profile planned for the X-30 aerospace plane and some second generation
shuttles that may evolve from that design.