Near-term Horizontal Launch for Flexible Operations: Results of the DARPA/NASA Horizontal Launch StudyHorizontal launch has been investigated for 60 years by over 130 different studies. During this time only one concept, Pegasus, has ever been in operation. The attractiveness of horizontal launch is the capability to provide a "mobile launch pad" that can use existing aircraft runways, cruise above weather, loiter for mission instructions, and provide precise placement for orbital intercept, rendezvous, or reconnaissance. A jointly sponsored study by DARPA and NASA, completed in 2011, explored the trade space of horizontal launch system concepts which included an exhaustive literature review of the past 70 years. The Horizontal Launch Study identified potential near- and mid-term concepts capable of delivering 15,000 lb payloads to a 28.5 due East inclination, 100 nautical-mile low-Earth orbit. Results are presented for a range of near-term system concepts selected for their availability and relatively low design, development, test, and evaluation (DDT&E) costs. This study identified a viable low-cost development path forward to make a robust and resilient horizontal launch capability a reality.
Document ID
20130000446
Acquisition Source
Glenn Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Bartolotta, Paul A. (NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Wilhite, Alan W. (Georgia Inst. of Tech. Hampton, VA, United States)
Schaffer, Mark G. (SpaceWorks Engineering, Inc Atlanta, GA, United States)
Huebner, Lawrence D. (NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Voland, Randall T. (Acent Laboratories, LLC Hampton, VA, United States)
Voracek, David F. (NASA Dryden Flight Research Center Edwards, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 27, 2013
Publication Date
September 11, 2012
Subject Category
Launch Vehicles And Launch Operations
Report/Patent Number
E-18513
Meeting Information
Meeting: AIAA SPACE 2012 Conference and Exposition
Location: Pasadena, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: September 11, 2012
End Date: September 13, 2012
Sponsors: American Inst. of Aeronautics and Astronautics