Space Forum / Space Flight / December 2005

I've long noticed that the problem with the space industry is
limited demand.  With demand for only so many space shots,
there doesn't seem to be a potential for economies of scale.
However, what if each launcher was composed of many
disposable mass produced units?  Then a small number of
space shots still has the potential for economies of scale.
Here's an idea:

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This rocket is a stack of cylindrical fuel tanks topped off
by the payload.  Around the top of the vehicle is clustered
a number of rocket thrusters.  Fuel is consumed from
the bottom-most tank first; the tanks are disposed of one
by one as they are consumed.

As the mass of the vehicle diminishes, less and less
thrust is needed.  Opposite pairs of thrusters are
discarded as they are no longer needed.  With 8
thrusters, you get the equivalent of four stages.

This concept is the direct opposite of the SSTO RLV
approach, although I suppose you might make the
thruster units recoverable.  Obviously, with the rocket
thrusters up near the top thrusting downward, this
concept isn't suitable for cryogenic fuel.

Thoughts?

Isaac Kuo