Performance of air-breathing launch vehicles is investigated. A simple set of 'alpha-beta' relations are used at the core of some simple trajectory, propulsion and structural models, to obtain qualitative information about possible design directions. Only single-stage-to-orbit vehicles are discussed for reasons of brevity. Optimum vehicle types are suggested. For example, optimum air-breathing termination velocity emerges for a class of vehicles attempting to enter the high-hypersonic regime. Some propulsion systems and strategies are discussed. It is concluded that the 'alpha-beta' relations are useful and that with careful optimisation, performance gains over all-rocket SSTO vehicles could be reached.
Optimum directions for air-breathing launch vehicle design
Optimale Entwicklungsrichtungen fuer die Konzipierung von luftansaugenden Raumfahrzeugen
AIAA-Papers ; Jul ; 1-9
1987
9 Seiten, 4 Bilder, 4 Tabellen, 16 Quellen
Aufsatz (Konferenz)
Englisch
Optimal air-breathing launch vehicle design
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