Abstract This paper summarizes the results of the pre-feasibility studies carried out in 2012 on the concept of sub orbital and hypersonic, high altitude flight in support of future generation transportation. Currently, while the High Altitude Flight is mostly instrumental to touristic purposes and emphasizes the so called Spaceports as futuristic, customers-luring airports featured with all the support services, the “Spacegate” concept deals with scheduled traveling in the upper part of the atmosphere between two points over the Earth surface, with significant reduction of the transfer time. The first part of the paper provides a theoretical approach to the matter, by proposing an “operational” mapping of the atmosphere as well as of the different kinds of flight occurring at High Altitude. The second part of the paper addresses the problem of the limited human capability of maintaining an active control of the vehicle during the re-entry phase and introduces the “Spacegate” concept as the conical portion of the atmosphere above the landing site, whose surface delimits the spiral-descending trajectories that the pilot can travel for a safe re-entry. This paper further outlines the results of the preliminary definition of top level operational requirements and derived architecture functional modules in support to the “Spacegate” implementation. Special attention was given to the favorable geographic and climatic conditions of Italy that make this Country suitable enough for future experimental sub orbital flights and related operations. An initial analysis was performed on the regulatory backbone that has to be built to properly operate High Altitude Flight vehicles in Italy according to the concept of an Italian “Spacegate”. A Preliminary Master Plan/Road Map for the “Spacegate” has been laid out, with special emphasis to selected near term activities and support infrastructures necessary to be carried out to better refine the study in preparation to the unfolding of further future endeavors.

    Highlights Spacegate is related to suborbital flights aimed to point-to-point transportation. Atmosphere divided in the Aeronautical, Space, High Altitude Flight (HAF) domains. Determined that the High Altitude Flight is a flight condition, not a flight region. A spiral reentry maneuver around the transfer point optimizes controllability. Spacegate integrated operations in Europe require a proper regulatory backbone.


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    Titel :

    The Italian Spacegate: Study and innovative approaches to future generation transportation based on High Altitude Flight


    Beteiligte:

    Erschienen in:

    Acta Astronautica ; 101 ; 98-110


    Erscheinungsdatum :

    2014-03-30


    Format / Umfang :

    13 pages




    Medientyp :

    Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)


    Format :

    Elektronische Ressource


    Sprache :

    Englisch


    Schlagwörter :

    ALTEC , Advanced Logistics Technology Engineering Centre , ASI ATC , Italian Space Agency Air Traffic Control , COMSTAC CRI , Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee Certification Review Item , DARPA , Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency , DoD , Department of Defence , EASA , European Aviation Safety Agency , ELV , Expendable Launch Vehicle , ENAC , Ente Nazionale Aviazione Civile , ENAV , Ente Nazionale assistenza al Volo , ESA , European Space Agency , EVA , Extra-Vehicular Activity , FAA , Federal Aviation Administration , FAA/AST , FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation , HAF , High Altitude Flight , HTHL , Horizontal Take-off, Horizontal Landing Hazardous Materials , ICAO , International Civil Aviation Organization , ISO , International Organization for Standardization , ISS , International Space Station , IT , Information Technology , LEO , Low Earth Orbit , MoD , Ministry of Defence , NAMSA , NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency , NAS , National Air Space System , NASA , National Aeronautics and Space Administration , NASTAR , National Aerospace Training And Research Centre , NATO , North Atlantic Treaty Organization , NAVAIDS , Navigational Aid System , NLA , New, Large Aircraft , OST , Outer Space Treaty , RLV , Reusable Launch Vehicle , SESAR , Single European Sky ATM3 Research (SESAR) Program , SSTO , Single Stage to Orbit , TSTO , Two Stage on Orbit , UN , United Nations , VTHL , Vertical Take-off, Horizontal Landing , VTVL , Vertical Take-off, Vertical Landing , Suborbital , Spacegate , Re-entry , Operations , Regulatory , Technology




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