Aerospace applications of atmospheric rendezvous.

This paper studies the feasibility of the use of an atmospheric rendezvous concept to increase the efficiency and flexibility of space transportation systems. In this concept the second stage of a recoverable orbital launch vehicle or hypersonic transport would be built without wings, landing gear, or subsonic flight propulsion, and would be received in an atmospheric rendezvous by a carrier vehicle at the terminal point of flight for subsequent ferry to a landing site. Significant possibilities for weight improvement are shown and the attractiveness of a subsonic form of atmospheric rendezvous in either a towing or docking mode is illustrated.