A reusable unmanned single-stage boost-glide suborbital Earth launcher, able to propel large or smaller payloads from Earth surface or from air launch, to a nearly Earth-orbital condition, then glide circum-globally to horizontal airstrip landing at its launch site or similar circum-global recovery site. The payload, using its own propulsion, is thus enabled to complete insertion into low-Earth-orbit (LEO) or destinations beyond LEO. This technically feasible capability, beyond conferring economic benefits of reusability and maneuverability, can be adapted to increase payload by adding drop tanks, or solid or liquid “strap on” boosters, and might eventually be modified and evolved to perform manned aerospace missions, as well as single stage to orbit (SSTO) missions.
Reusable global launcher
2015-09-22
Patent
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
IPC: | B64G Raumfahrt , COSMONAUTICS |
Reusable launcher concepts pursued
Online Contents | 1995
|Reusable expendable launcher cost analysis
AIAA | 2000
|Predesign methodology for reusable launcher structures
British Library Conference Proceedings | 1996
|Predesign methodology for reusable launcher structures
British Library Online Contents | 1996
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