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 |
Average |
km |
kg/m3 |
km |
km to 80 |
80 km |
1.85e-5 |
6.33 |
6.33 |
70 km |
8.28e-5 |
7.14 |
6.7 |
60 km |
3.10e-4 |
8.02 |
7.1 |
50 km |
1.03e-3 |
8.14 |
7.5 |
Linear Heating Profile
Assume constant 3 gee acceleration (29.4 m/s²) to escape velocity, and a heating rate proportional to time and to