Internal Booster System for Launch Vehicle Aerodynamic Optimization

Solution Overview

Problem

Strapped-on boosters in launch vehicles increase the complexity of the vehicle's external geometry, leading to significant aerodynamic losses during the ascent phase in the dense atmosphere, which complicates achieving higher orbits and carrying heavier payloads.

Innovation Solution

A booster system comprising a plurality of core and patchy boosters arranged internally within the rocket casing, allowing for a uniform cross-sectional shape and reducing external complexity, with patchy boosters being separable to minimize aerodynamic losses during ascent.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If strapped-on boosters are used to increase launch capability, then heavier payloads and higher orbits can be achieved, but the external geometry complexity increases causing aerodynamic losses

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelaunch capabilityVSAvoidexternal geometry complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies nesting by placing boosters inside the rocket casing rather than attaching them externally. The booster system includes a plurality of core boosters and patchy boosters arranged within the inner space of the rocket casing, allowing the launch vehicle to achieve enhanced payload capability while maintaining a streamlined external geometry that reduces aerodynamic losses during ascent through the dense atmosphere.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Quantity of substance

If strapped-on boosters are used to enhance launch capability, then heavier payloads can be carried, but aerodynamic losses increase during ascent in dense atmosphere

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepayload capacityVSAvoidaerodynamic losses

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies nesting by placing boosters inside the rocket casing rather than attaching them externally. The booster system includes a plurality of core boosters and patchy boosters arranged within the inner space of the rocket casing, allowing the launch vehicle to achieve enhanced payload capability while maintaining a streamlined external geometry that reduces aerodynamic losses during ascent through the dense atmosphere.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Loss of energy

If patchy boosters are separated from the launch vehicle, then aerodynamic losses are minimized, but the separation timing and control complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaerodynamic lossesVSAvoidseparation control complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the booster system into separable patchy boosters that can be detached from the launch vehicle. The patchy boosters are configured to be separatable from the launch vehicle, allowing them to be discarded after providing their thrust contribution, thereby reducing weight and minimizing aerodynamic losses during the ascent phase while maintaining relatively simple separation mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11518547B1Booster system for launch vehicle

Publication Date: 2022.12.06 AT SPACE PTY LTD

AI summary

A booster system for a launch vehicle includes a plurality of core boosters and a plurality of patchy boosters. The plurality of core boosters and the plurality of patchy boosters are arranged in an inner space of a rocket casing of the launch vehicle, and the plurality of patchy boosters is separatable from the launch vehicle.