Multistage Air Launch with Supersonic Tow for Safer Orbital Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current air launch technologies for space vehicles are inefficient, costly, and risky, particularly due to dangerous separation of launch vehicles at low altitudes and speeds, and do not effectively reduce the cost of satellite launches.
Innovation Solution
A multistage aerospace system with a reusable or expendable spaceplane or rocket plane equipped with ramjet and sustainer rocket engines, utilizing a supersonic tow aircraft to horizontally take off, tow, and launch payloads into orbit, allowing for safer and more efficient separation and reuse of components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of stationary object
If air launch is used to reduce liftoff mass and launch costs, then launch costs and mass requirements are reduced, but separation of the launch vehicle from the carrier at low altitude and speed becomes dangerous
Solution Approach 1:
The launch system is divided into multiple independent stages: carrier aircraft, tow aircraft, and spaceplane. Each stage can be separated and recovered independently, with the spaceplane being towed to altitude before ignition rather than separating at low speed, eliminating the dangerous separation phase while maintaining mass efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The spaceplane is towed to high altitude and supersonic speed before engine ignition and payload release. This preliminary acceleration and positioning eliminates the need for dangerous low-speed separation, as the spaceplane is already in a stable flight regime when the payload is released
2Productivity
If traditional two-stage air launch is used, then launch vehicle can be deployed, but significant cost reduction is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The spaceplane is designed to be reusable and recoverable, landing autonomously after payload deployment. The carrier and tow aircraft are also reusable. This multi-stage recovery system eliminates the need to discard expensive launch vehicles after single use, achieving significant cost reduction through repeated utilization of all system components
Solution Approach 2:
The spaceplane serves multiple functions: it is towed by the carrier aircraft, accelerates to supersonic speed, ignites its engine, deploys the payload, and then lands autonomously for reuse. The carrier and tow aircraft can be reused for multiple launches. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for disposable launch vehicles, reducing overall system cost
3Ease of manufacture
If multistage combined launch technology is used to reduce cost and risk, then reusable components enable cost reduction, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complex multistage system is divided into distinct functional modules: carrier aircraft for transport, tow aircraft for acceleration, and spaceplane for payload deployment. Each module operates independently with dedicated functions, making the overall complex system manageable through clear functional separation and independent optimization of each component
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
The system significantly reduces launch costs and risks by enabling reusable components, enhancing payload capacity, and ensuring safety for the carrier aircraft and crew, while simplifying aircraft modifications and reducing aerodynamic heating during ascent and reentry.
Implementation Method 1
The orbital spaceplane is equipped with a ramjet or scramjet engine and a sustainer rocket engine. The ramjet or scramjet engine can accelerate the spaceplane and the rocket plane in upper atmosphere to a speed around 10-20 M.
Implementation Method 2
The orbital spaceplane is equipped with a ramjet or scramjet engine and a sustainer rocket engine. The sustainer rocket engine ignites and delivers the spaceplane with the spacecraft into orbit.
Implementation Method 3
The orbital spaceplane is equipped with aerodynamic lifting surfaces. The carrier aircraft, coupled with the spaceplane, takes off horizontally and ascends to staging altitude and speed under carrier aircraft power with both the spaceplane and the carrier aircraft wings providing lift.
Implementation Method 4
The system significantly reduces launch costs and risks by enabling reusable components, enhancing payload capacity, and ensuring safety for the carrier aircraft and crew, while simplifying aircraft modifications and reducing aerodynamic heating during ascent and reentry.
Data Source
AI summary
Combined aerospace system is a multi-stage technology to deliver payloads to orbit and to midair. The system comprises a carrier aircraft, a tow aircraft, a towed spaceplane or a rocket plane or a glider. The carrier aircraft, coupled with the spaceplane and/or the rocket plane or several gliders, takeoff from a runway and ascends to a staging altitude and speed under the carrier aircraft power. After staging, the tow aircraft will pick up the spaceplane or the rocket plane or the glider from the carrier aircraft in flight. The towed spaceplane or the rocket plane or the glider continues ascending and accelerating by the tow aircraft. The spaceplane or the rocket plane will disconnect from the tow aircraft and continue to ascend and accelerate in an atmosphere by using the ramjet engine. The spaceplane or the rocket plane equipped with a propulsion unit is used to place the spacecraft into the earth orbit. The glider will disconnect from the tow aircraft and lands in designated place. Gliders can be used for instantly delivering of correspondence, parcels, and civil goods from a supplier to wide variety of individual consumers or corporate customers.