TITLE: Algebraic K-theory of odd-dimensional spheres
QUESTION [8 upvotes]: Let $A(X)$ denote the Waldhausen's algebraic K-theory of a space $X$, and let $n$ be odd.  

Are the rational homotopy groups of $A(S^n)$ known? 
Is the group $\pi_{2k}(A(S^n))$  finite for all positive $k\ll n$?

A reference (or proof sketch) would be appreciated.
EDIT: I found that the answers are stated (without reference or proof) on page 1 in "Homological stability of diffeomorphism groups" by Alexander Berglund and Ib Madsen, http://arxiv.org/abs/1203.4161. Namely, the answers to both questions is yes.

REPLY [10 votes]: Let $\tilde A(X)$ be the reduced functor, i.e., the homotopy fiber of the map $A(X) \to A(\ast)$. Since $A(*)$ is rationally a product of $K(Q,4j+1)$ for $j \ge 1$, we may as well study $\tilde A(X)$ instead.
The rational homotopy of $\Omega \tilde A(\Sigma Y)$ was studied in 
G. Carlsson, R. Cohen, T. Goodwillie, and W. Hsiang, The free loop space and the algebraic K-theory of spaces.
K-Theory 1 (1987), no. 1, 53–82. 
(The paper has some gaps but these were later corrected.) If we assume that $Y$ is connected, then the rational homotopy type of $\Omega \tilde A(\Sigma Y)$ coincides with that of the functor:
$$
\prod_{n\ge 1} Q(Y^{[n]}_{h\Bbb Z_n})
$$
where $Y^{[n]}$ is the $n$-fold smash product of $Y$, $\Bbb Z_n$ acts by cyclic permutation and ${({-})}_{h\Bbb Z_n}$ means homotopy orbits. Rationally, the homotopy groups of $Q(Y^{[n]}_{h\Bbb Z_n})$ coincide the homology groups of $Y^{[n]}_{\Bbb Z_n}$. 
When $Y$ is a $j$-sphere, the rational homology is not hard to compute.
Finally, if $X = S^1$, we know that $\tilde A(S^1)$ is rationally the same as $B A(*)$ by a version of Bass-Heller-Swan. But by what I mentioned above, $B\tilde A(*)$ is a rationally the product of $K(\Bbb Q,4j+2)$, $j \ge 1$.