Feasibility of sending an object into orbit

[fireballs619]

I'm sure many of you have heard of the N-Prize (or maybe not), and a few nights ago I was reminded of the competition via finding it on StumbleUpon. While the $2000 limit is quite ridiculous (and most likely not enough) it got me think about sending an object into orbit for cheap. I know nothing about amateur rocketry, so I don't know how much force would be required to send a small object into space, but it does seem possible to do for low (~$7000) amounts of money.

In my daydreams of achieving the level of Personal-Satellite-Awesome, I thought of the idea of launching a rocket from a high altitude balloon thereby getting through the thickest part of the atmosphere without using up any rocket fuel. The rocket would then fire in multiple stages, the last stage being essentially a gun barrel that fires the micro-satellite out. Of course, that probably isn't possible. My question for you guys, though, it this: Given $7000 USD, how would you launch a small satellite into an orbit, not even a stable one. The weight of the satellite would be up to you, but AI guess you would have to be able to communicate with it, so it could be proven to be actually orbiting. This is all hypothetical, of course.

 

[River Crab]

The first thing you mentioned is a Rockoon, and the second thing is similar to HARP. The problem with Rockoons that is that balloons lose their lift solely depending on the Earth's pressure gradient. Also, balloons give you no tangential velocity, which means there is a very large weight penalty in fuel, or whichever means you would use to achieve the required orbital velocity once at your balloon's operational ceiling. So, so far, Rockoons = sounding rockets only.

As for me, I don't know where to start with N-Prize.
Seriously, $7000 USD? Call me a cynic, but...

I do see one small maybe-loophole in the rules, however:

a. The cost of the launch vehicle, including the satellite itself, and any fuel, gases or other materials which it carries; in other words, anything which leaves the ground.

Using ground-based energy beaming, like a laser, one could totally skew the cost of a launch. I think they would not like this, however;

it is possible that loopholes in these rules may make it possible to complete the challenge in a spirit not intended by the N-Prize organisers, but nevertheless within the letter of the rules. The organisers therefore reserve the right to exclude entrants (or to require entrants to modify their entry) if the organisers feel that the spirit of the N-Prize challenge is not being adhered to, regardless of literal compliance with the rules.

I would like to add to your personal idea of awesomeness. Given unlimited time, perhaps you could use means of solar power or RTG or something to charge some form of EM propulsion (railgun, coilgun, but I think VASIMR wouldn't work from balloon height) while you balloon floats?

Also, these guys really seem to love the number 9. :lol: