Orbit-on-demand vehicle propelled by air-turborocket/ramjet enginesA preliminary design study has been completed for a fully reusable, single-stage-to-orbit transatmospheric vehicle. The specified mission capability was to lift a 20,000 lb payload to low earth orbit. A ground accelerator-assisted horizontal take-off was chosen to increase operational flexibility. The multi-mode propulsion system included the use of air-turborocket, ramjet, scramjet and rocket engines. Weight and performance estimates were obtained for the vehicle. A computer package was developed to perform aerothermodynamic analyses of the propulsion modes throughout the flight environment from take-off to low earth orbit. Results are presented for a semi-optimized trajectory. The analysis indicates that a vehicle of this type has great potential for providing low cost, flexible access to space.
Document ID
19870035982
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Hartung, L. (NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Karkow, J. (NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Ordway, W. (NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Pickett, D. (NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Muras, A. (NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)