A 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.


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    Title :

    Orbit-on-demand vehicle propelled by air-turborocket/ramjet engines


    Contributors:
    Hartung, L. (author) / Karkow, J. (author) / Ordway, W. (author) / Pickett, D. (author) / Muras, A. (author)

    Publication date :

    1986-06-01


    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English






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