Air Launch Glider with Deployable Wings for Towed Vehicle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current air launch systems for space or high-altitude vehicles face limitations in size, weight, and safety due to constraints of existing transport aircraft, leading to reduced payload capacity and increased launch costs, with existing solutions either being inefficient or complex.
Innovation Solution
An unpowered glider system that can releasably attach a launch vehicle to its mid-section, allowing for towing to a predetermined altitude and subsequent release for powered launch beyond Earth's atmosphere, with a design that minimizes towing power requirements and includes a sustainer motor for enhanced performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If a conventional large transport airplane is used to directly tow the launch vehicle, then the launch vehicle can be delivered to altitude, but the weight and size of the launch vehicle are severely limited by the payload lifting capacity and drag forces of the tow aircraft
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the launch vehicle into two segments: a glider portion that is towed by the aircraft and a launch vehicle portion that remains attached. The glider portion has high aspect ratio wings for efficient towing, while the launch vehicle portion contains the payload and propulsion system. This segmentation allows the towed configuration to have low drag while the launch configuration can have optimized wings for performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The wings of the launch vehicle are made dynamically adjustable through deployment and retraction mechanisms. During towing, the wings are retracted to minimize drag on the tow aircraft. During launch, the wings are deployed to provide necessary lift and aerodynamic control. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between low drag during towing and high lift during launch.
2Area of stationary object
If the launch vehicle is top-mounted on a transport aircraft, then there is ample space to attach the vehicle, but safety issues arise during separation maneuvers and in-flight emergencies
Solution Approach 1:
The glider serves as an intermediary between the tow aircraft and the launch vehicle. The launch vehicle remains attached to the glider throughout the towing process, and separation occurs between the glider and launch vehicle at altitude rather than from the aircraft itself. This intermediary arrangement maintains safety by keeping the launch vehicle isolated from the aircraft during critical separation phases.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the glider has high aspect ratio wings for efficient towing, then towing power is reduced, but the glider cannot provide sufficient lift during hypersonic ascent
Solution Approach 1:
The launch vehicle features dynamically adjustable wings that are retracted during towing to minimize drag on the aircraft, enabling efficient towing with high aspect ratio glider wings. During launch and ascent, the wings are deployed to provide necessary lift and aerodynamic control for hypersonic flight. This dynamic configuration resolves the contradiction between towing efficiency and ascent performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system separates the towing function (performed by the glider with high aspect ratio wings) from the launch function (performed by the vehicle with deployable wings). The glider's wings are optimized for towing efficiency, while the vehicle's wings are optimized for launch performance. This functional segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific role without compromise.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach provides a flexible, cost-effective, and safer air launch system capable of accommodating various launch vehicles and locations, with improved payload capacity and reduced operational complexity compared to existing methods.
Implementation Method 1
an unpowered glider (4) with a mid-section (18)
Implementation Method 2
a powered tow-aircraft (2) to tow the glider via a towline to a pre-determined altitude
Implementation Method 3
a powered tow-aircraft (2) to tow the glider
Implementation Method 4
the lift to drag ratio of the unpowered glider (4) with the launch vehicle (8) attached thereto
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is a system and method of air launching a powered launch vehicle into space or high altitude. More specifically, the invention is a tow aircraft which tows an unpowered glider, with the powered launch vehicle attached thereto, to launch altitude. The powered launch vehicle is released from the unpowered glider and powered on for launch.