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MYCOSAIL: A Bio-Inspired Veil-Interface Launch Architecture

We present a novel, multi-stage launch architecture, MYCOSAIL, inspired by the diverse atmospheric dispersal strategies of fungi and arachnids. This concept replaces a monolithic chemical rocket with a sequence of physically distinct propulsion and lift mechanisms, each optimized for a specific atmospheric domain, from the boundary layer to exo-atmospheric space. The proposed stack integrates (A) myco-convective boundary layer control, (B) electro-ballooning for tropospheric stabilization, (C) electroaerodynamic (EHD) thrust for lower stratospheric climb, (D) photophoretic lift for ascent through the rarefied mesosphere, and (E) beamed energy for final orbital insertion. This architecture represents a fundamental departure from propellant-centric designs, instead leveraging ambient fields and externally supplied energy. By mapping established, peer-reviewed physical phenomena to biological analogues, MYCOSAIL offers a potential roadmap toward propellantless, solid-state atmospheric ascent for ultra-light payloads, promising significant reductions in the material, energy, and infrastructure costs associated with space access.

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05 Sep 2025

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