Would a Rocket Sled Design be feasible?

[HazelPine]

Hi forum. I started today working on rocket sleds to launch small sats into LKO, a bit like the german silbervögel, that launched using a sled powered by rockets and got enough speed to take off. I was wondering, is it really worth it, to have a detachable SRB sled to launch your rockets and would it cut down on the Delta-V requirements? It uses KW Separatrons to make sure it doen't just falls down and makes jeb smile.

Mods: FAR and the amber warning light + KW

Tell me what you think about this method. Should I keep on spending my time on it or not?

Here are some photos of what I have, it almost made it to orbit:

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Edited January 5, 2014 by SaplingPick
My question is aswered.

[Skorpychan]

Interesting. Is it more efficient than just brute-forcing your way into orbit with a rocket?

[HazelPine]

Yeah, that is my question. If it IS more efficient It could revolutionize the story of kerbal launchers! It did use a single stage that made it go upwards though. almost an SSTO by pure LF! I'm going to experiment with small probe launchers and see if it works as well as this proof-of-concept.

Edited January 5, 2014 by SaplingPick

[Kasuha]

I'm pretty sure it will be more efficient to send your rocket vertically with the same SRBs. You need to get to thin atmosphere as soon as possible, by speeding horizontally you're losing a lot of momentum to atmospheric drag.

[HazelPine]

But wouldn't that make me carry the weight of the srb's too? The idea is I speed up on the ground without using the actual rocket, so then I pull up at high speeds and spend less time in the dense atmosphere than if I had to accelerate from 0 m/s. AND I'm using FAR, and if I stick to aerodynamic rockets it doesn't matter as much. The idea is you pull up as fast as possible, or else what Kasuha said. I know what you mean, but when you see it like this... I'm not sure.

C'mon guys, give me your thoughts on this!

Edited January 5, 2014 by SaplingPick

[HazelPine]

BTW I will test by using the same rocket with sled and without to see if it gives any difference.

[Skorpychan]

I've considered doing similar, but with a jet sled rather than a rocket sled. Jets are great for atmosphere, so I could make something to get me up to high altitude, then floor it into a zoom climb, ditch the aircraft bits as they flame out, and switch to rockets.

[Guest Brody_Peffley]

BTW I will test by using the same rocket with sled and without to see if it gives any difference.

Its alot better to just stick it to the rocket and blast off vertically and its more effiencet. Just make sure to limit the thrust on the boosters to gain more range.

[HazelPine]

Its alot better to just stick it to the rocket and blast off vertically and its more effiencet. Just make sure to limit the thrust on the boosters to gain more range.

But I want to just use the non-Srb part of the rocket. The question is will it save delta-v if I use a sled on the ground to have a faster but more horizontal liftoff or a 0 m/s start but vertical?

[Rhomphaia]

Most of the speed you gain going horizontally on the ground will be lost to drag anyway. 2 FL-T800s with an LV-T45 and a couple of BACC boosters is what I usually use for a small launcher. Launched vertically It can carry a bigger payload to orbit without FAR than you seem to have on your rocket. With FAR your core stage should not be too far from SSTO capable. on a vertical launch.

[HazelPine]

Ok, I guess it just is one of those things that you can't do even if it sounds cool. But I will still make them! I think I will make it into a challenge! I will close this as answered, but I'm on mobile, so please do not post more!

Edited January 5, 2014 by SaplingPick