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From: space@ucbvax.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Re: The Bootstrap Problem
Message-ID: <8601071422.AA01754@ucbvax.berkeley.edu>
Date: Tue, 7-Jan-86 09:22:08 EST
Article-I.D.: ucbvax.8601071422.AA01754
Posted: Tue Jan  7 09:22:08 1986
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There was a spaceport similar to your idea described in Analog a couple
of years ago.  Boosters are use to lift cargo up to orbital heights
but without orbital velocity.  Then the spaceport grabs it and accelerates
it to matching velocity.  When it's cargo is discharged, load it up with
finished products (using garbage to top it off) and accelerate it out the
end of the spaceport (maintaining the spaceport's orbit) and dropping the
cargo gently in to the atmosphere.