Track Slope

Assume a maximum exit velocity a little larger than Earth escape (11.2 km/s) at 6458 km radius, 80 km altitude, near the equator. At that radius, the Earth's rotation velocity is 0.47 km/s ( 2π × 6458 km / 86414s ), so the maximum atmosphere-relative velocity (ignoring wind and adding drag loss) is 10.8 km/s. We will compute track slope backwards from that.

Loop inclination - the angle to the equator - will probably be between 10 and 30 degrees, To Be Determined.

Atmosphere Density Model

Altitude

Density

Scale Height

km

kg/m3

km

80 km

1.85e-5

6.33

70 km

7.14

60 km

8.28e-5

8.02

50 km

1.03e-3

8.14

Linear Heating Profile