Sliding Rocket Second Stage with Dry Ice

Cannon assisted Dry Ice Rocket design can be applied to the second stage of the rocket as well. In the first stage, the external heat source to evaporate the dry ice comes from the initial cannon blast and the supersonic air drag. With this design, the second stage of the rocket would be released at a much higher altitude and speed. The high inertial momentum would heat up the dry ice within the second stage. This would provide the initial thrust to the second stage. Then it would unfold its black heat absorbing panels. In atmosphere free environment the black panels would heat up effectively from the sun rays that would allow the second stage to maintain high pressure carbon dioxide for the thrust. Additionally, the sliding payload bay's high inertial momentum would help the pressurized gas production as well.

This approach requires the rocket to be launched at specific times of the day to utilize the sun. The simple and low cost of the design reduces the cost of high energy launches while the second stages are never recovered in such missions. Additionally, the simplicity improves the reliability of the rocket.