# Air Launched Rockets: Why Not?

**URL:** <https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/air-launched-rockets-why-not/4376>\
**Category:** Continuity\
**Tags:** tim-dodd, everyday-astronaut, space\
**Created:** [14 February 2024 01:47 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/air-launched-rockets-why-not/4376 "2024-02-14T01:47:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![pturmel](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/user_avatar/scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/pturmel/32/111_2.png) [@pturmel](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/pturmel)\
**Post date:** [14 February 2024 01:47 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/air-launched-rockets-why-not/4376/1 "2024-02-14T01:47:03Z")

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[![](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/uploads/default/original/3X/e/e/eef5689cacd3d3c25a10bde0e41c51fcb1d1ccf4.jpeg "Why Don’t They Just Launch Rockets From Jets?") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAt9WDQEMoA)

Tim Dodd asks and answers “Why don’t we launch (orbital class) rockets from aircraft?”

Despite the popularity in the past for research projects, and recent popularity for sub-orbital commercial ventures, the cons pile up when larger payloads are considered.

As usual for Tim, his deep dive isn’t too deep for the non-technical. “Everyday astronaut” indeed.