this post was submitted on 17 Sep 2023
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Do you think space planes will ever be a reality? (self.space)
submitted 1 year ago by ruford1976 to c/space
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[โ€“] WhoRoger 5 points 1 year ago

Possibly. What's especially needed are better materials that can keep withstanding both a start/boost and atmospheric re-entry with little maintenance. Maybe with such super materials you can also build engines that are more effective and possibly transfom between modes, such as from turbojet to ramjet to rocket or hydrogen propulsions.

Seems like something quite a few decades off at least, and not super practical in general. The requirements for aircraft and space craft just go against each other, even moreso than with a plane and submarine.