Study of the altitude vs speed

This is what makes the Solar Eagle II tic.

To give scale !

Another way to launch efficiently shuttles into the Mars or GEO station.

Here..just with a grain of salt..th e weight could be just 150 000 kg and the shuttle 25 000 kg and acceleration just 10 Gs on the rail.

This is pretty much based on the Boeing TSTO 1989 patent.

The BIGGER Solar Eagle

This is the ultimate SOLAR EAGLE version..tailerons, ground effect and 2800 m2 of solar panels !

The rocket first stage is reusable and second is for a long journey to Mars ( or even Jupiter perhaps ) and the ION thruster for the return journey. The lander worx a bit differently as a combo than the Apollo did. Downsizing and new materials play a role and the possibility to fly to space in mild temperatures via solar energy to 50 km altitude. The indicated 1860 hp is from solar alone. In addition the plane could carry a 3600 kw power worth of accus to be used at the high to gain super sonic speeds in the really thin air ( in order to stay airborne ). The Vincent Burnelli idea of a lifting body has been implemeted fully in this as well.

Data for the space enthusiast !

Some new aspects.

This shows how the tubes that are carried with Solar Eagle can be arranged on the orbit.

Above and below how the old Solar Eagle looked like..it is tiny compared to the new mother ship underway.

I'll add a counter here since I think the old one is broken.
Hitwebcounter.com

Second generation 250 seater solar powered passenger plane !

Is on its way as we speak, but I cannot show it to you. It has same elements with few new ones as the earlier ones.

Solar/rocket powered passenger plane of 80 seats !

Mach 2+ at 50-60 km....and as glider down to 40 km altitude and back to solar powered flight.

Also a 100 seater with 68 m span.

In comparison with SAAB 340 PLUS !

SOLAR FLIGHT FORUM ADDED !

http://solar-flight.60934.x6.nabble.com/ Let's start a discussion !

56+2 seater Solar Impulse like spanning passenger aircraft !

This could be the first step towards electric/solar powered passenger aeroplane !

I am pretty sure it has to have 2/3 of the accu power.

Comparison with SKYLON and APOLLO !

It is not small..but it flies slowly in low atmosphere ( 50-200 km/h )when it gets to Stratosphere it could go 700-2000 km/h and finally in Mesosphere 2 000 - 5 000 km/h..in Thermosphre it goes like ..5 000 - 12 000 km/h.

I assume it is the best to jettison the space rocket at 80-120 km when there is still some air where the elevator can be used to initiate the landing phase as a glider.

What is the use of this ?

It could carry rapidly a large space vessel into orbit to be constructed there or on the Moon to go to Jupiter ( Mars enroute ) perhaps even Saturnus.

Below an explanation about the mother ship use...and comparison with SKYLON.

Small update for the less big version !

SOLAR EAGLE XZ would use 10/15 kN after switched to rocket mode after 30-35 km altitude in solar/electric mode has been reached.

Text above corrected !

Solar Powered Flight History !

Sunseeker I and II have been around a long time. http://inhabitat.com/sunseeker-ii-solar-powered-plane-takes-off/
Before this Paul MacCready has done several succesful designs in the field.
Lately SOLAR IMPULSE has amazed us; http://singularityhub.com/2013/07/14/solar-powered-aircraft-flies-from-sf-to-nyc-under-solar-power-with-a-few-pitstops/

Here is a beautiful history of the solar powered flight !
http://www.asl.ethz.ch/research/asl/skysailor/History_of_Solar_Flight.pdf

Jules Verne 149 years ago predicted this !

Behold !
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/02/pictures/110208-jules-verne-google-doodle-183rd-birthday-anniversary/
Light propelled ships will fly to the Moon ! ( Jules Verne 1865 )
http://blogthinkbig.com/en/inventions-jules-verne-predicted/ More details here !
This is literally his propelled light ship !

This is also Jules Verne inspired; http://twistedsifter.com/2012/07/worlds-first-solar-powered-boat-to-circumnavigated-world/

18% efficient panels 537 m2 produce 95 kw.

Better picture of the Albatross !

SW ship from Episode II as a model ?

I was thinking whether I got the idea from here or vice versa ? http://cosmoquest.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=19166&d=1390459276

First step to space !

To make something usefull outa this I figure it should carry a small satellite into earth orbit..possibly no higher than 200 km altitude. Release should take place in 32 km altitude ( 1/3 way to the space ).

Small correction below !

Plane could also have a rocket assisted booster which is not dropped to reach 60 km altitude for test purposes ! Below yet another update...with more lifting area.

Some idea of the size of this "beast" !

The original idea in 2003 was very sketchy..and raw..just the word "using space shuttle boosters" indicates the main idea.

Some details to further understand the system

Comparison with APOLLO lunar landing module. The TINMAN lunar module of the STAR EAGLE space rocket is just 1/53th of the APOLLO payload with lunar and command module. The solar powered craft with boosted some accu power just couldn't lift a 3 000 000 kg craft to space...but a 5000 kg craft easily to 25 km altitude...and with rocket power higher to 120 km.

Do you get it now ? APOLLO used 95 % of its mass by the altitude of 125 km..thus SOLAR EAGLE carries just the 3rd stage with a very lite Lunar/Reentry Module.

Explaining the concept.

Some fundamental ideas. The very idea of the mixed lifting body and wing combo was discussed at homebuiltairplanes.com many years ago. System is based on Cm negative and Cm positive airfoils compensating.

Insane amount of research has been put to this to find an efficient lay out for this. I started a rigorous research in 2007.

The foil has L/D of 214..so it is a high lifting foil.

Hello everyone interested about a low cost orbital launch vehicle !

I just start by adding few drawings...since a drawing tells more than thousand words.

Using ground effect on take off is one of the key issues in saving energy at take off.

So ther is a 1/5 scale model and the actual 128 meters spanning ( yes it is huge ) Solar Eagle drawings mixed here displayed.

See how high the Solar Eagle flies on solar power first...without using a drop of the fuel.

Also Strato Launch Systems LaunchOne here compared !

This is to show that at 15 km the Solar Eagle ( 1/6 scale model ) still beats the Solar Impulse power/thrust with a clear margin...and is climbing. One engine/prop below.

This is just my idea to use solar power to 25-30 km altitude and thereafter switch into rocket power...and fly up to 100-140 km altitude with 100 km/h IAS speed ( TAS 14 000 km/h ) and release the STAR EAGLE there. Solar Eagle glides to 40 km and there on flies with solar power back to the airfield. I hope I have cleared all possible aspects now...there are many of them. Main one being to use the parasites ( space rocket ) thruster in a climb to 120-140 km altitude using the onboard fuel. Thus no fuel of the Star Eagle will be used on the way up...until launched. I call this the second generation launch system..since it delivers the payload right into the orbit..or very near it. This might sound a bit exuberant, but actually I first discovered this mother ship / space rocked combo already in February 4th 2003.