The European aerospace company EADS Astrium thinks it has found a better way to launch satellites (GB 2388578). Rockets that blast satellites into orbit have several engine “stages”, each of which is jettisoned as it runs out of fuel. Normally the craft continues its ascent until it reaches orbit altitude. But Astrium thinks it would be more fuel-efficient if the final stage behaved like a roller coaster – using a slight fall to gain speed from gravity.
In its new scheme, the rocket would initially thrust upwards in an arc, then veer downwards slightly to allow the craft to gather…
