Have you ever tried playing Kerbal space program? If you get into it you'll very rapidly understand why SSTO designs are not worth it.
Every kilogram of mass you have to lift to orbit requires multiple kilograms of fuel. And that extra fuel itself requires fuel to lift it. Staging allows you to jettison mass part way, meaning you need to carry significantly less fuel over all.
First stage reuse is a solved problem, and there's multiple very cool ideas for second stage reuse in development right now. We're so close to cracking this.
pufftaloon t1_j8u1cab wrote
Reply to comment by urmomaisjabbathehutt in After a decade in development, Japan’s H3 rocket is ready for its debut by DoremusJessup
Have you ever tried playing Kerbal space program? If you get into it you'll very rapidly understand why SSTO designs are not worth it.
Every kilogram of mass you have to lift to orbit requires multiple kilograms of fuel. And that extra fuel itself requires fuel to lift it. Staging allows you to jettison mass part way, meaning you need to carry significantly less fuel over all.
First stage reuse is a solved problem, and there's multiple very cool ideas for second stage reuse in development right now. We're so close to cracking this.