A method of launching space vehicles by towing them aloft, then twirling
them around a large transport aircraft (40) at the center of a formation
(AA) of other tow aircraft (28, 34) and other devices of the invention. A
lengthy, semi-rigid tow pipeline (14) serves as a conduit for the
transfer of fuels and oxidizers, as the tow cable, and as an energy
storage device that reflexes efficiently when it is flexed. The flexing
of tow pipeline (14) is caused by a parachute (22) acting in conjunction
with all the aircraft making the tighest turn they are capable of doing.
Tow aircraft in certain arrays (28) are joined to tow pipeline (14) by
sliding trollies (26) that also host canard rotor wings for the
aerodynamic support of the main tube (12). The tow trollies (26) aid the
sliding tow aircraft arrays (28) in gaining mechanical advantage to
accelerate the space vehicle. The space vehicle may also burn its own
motors for a longer-than-usual time as it gains in angular velocity
because its fuels are replenished by a pipeline that automatically
increases the pressure and volume of fuel flow as the angular
acceleration increases. The tow pipeline (14) features a micro-hole
laminar lift foil (50) on the top surface of the wing and on the bottom.
By balancing the vacuum level in the plurality of chamber underneath the
plurality of lift foil 50, the pilot or autopilot has an effective way to
control the flight characteristics of the tow pipeline (14). In some
embodiments the micro-hole laminar lift foil (50) on the top and bottom
will made of transparent hollow wire segments or other material so
arranged as to pass ambient light through to photo-voltaic cells below
that convert sunlight to electrical energy.