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From: Hank.Walker@UNH.CS.CMU.EDU
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: HOTOL Airbreathing Rocket
Message-ID: <8603021945.AA03502@s1-b.arpa>
Date: Sun, 2-Mar-86 14:42:43 EST
Article-I.D.: s1-b.8603021945.AA03502
Posted: Sun Mar  2 14:42:43 1986
Date-Received: Tue, 4-Mar-86 01:47:41 EST
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: The ARPA Internet
Lines: 10

An article in New Scientist briefly described the airbreathing rocket
planned for use in the British Aerospace HOTOL.  The basic idea seems to be
to use liquid hydrogen to condense air, separate out the liquid oxygen, and
then burn it with the hydrogen in a rocket.  At higher altitudes, the engine
would switch to onboard oxygen.  The article didn't discuss it much, but
there seem to be obvious problems with water and carbon dioxide ice buildup,
as well as how to do the condensation rapidly and separate the oxygen and
nitrogen.  This all sounds very heavy.  Does anyone know more?  The CMU
library copies of Aviation Week disappear or are read to shreds moments
after arrival.