[mlindner]

The problem isn't altitude, it's speed. Launching from the air has all the same problems of air launched rockets from planes. Except now they're trying to sling a massive rocket up to 200k feet along with all the sloshy liquids inside without anything breaking. It's complete and utter madness. The founders/investors are guaranteed to lose all their investments.

[viraptor]

I get the scepticism, but you're not really supporting your opinions here. The first rocket was madness, the shuttle was madness, landing rockets on sea platform was madness. Sometimes mad ideas work. You'll need more details to guarantee something.

[thombat]

Well somebody is sure to lose their money, but if enough bigger fools can be lured aboard it needn't be the current crew. In other words, the Nikola truck but in space.

[mlindner]

The Nikola comparison is apt here, though I think this is even worse than Nikola. There's known examples of fuel cell powered large vehicles.

[thombat]

Absolutely - the only thing about Nikola that looks dodgy on purely physical grounds is the claim of super-efficient electrolysis. Whereas SpinLaunch seems quite uncoupled to reality. Meaning of course the reality is that they'll run giggling to the bank...