Abstract The article makes an overview of possible new means of space payload launching and landing. The possibilities of essential reducing the unit cost of space transportation are described. Both vertical and horizontal versions of the take-off and landing are allowed launching and landing vehicles of different configurations are analyzed by ensuring the reusable application of all elements of the space system, and not just the first stage of the launch vehicle. The advantages of using water areas for space needs are discussed. The opportunities and difficulties of application a heavy ekranoplane (WIG-craft) to assist the marine take-off and landing of an aerospace plane are explained. The flight safety requirements for maneuvering of both these winged vehicles for their reliable approach and docking are analyzed.
Highlights The interest of readers in the proposed article will certainly be high, primarily because of the detailed description of a new constructive idea to reduce the unit cost of take-off and landing of spacecraft with the involvement of a heavy ekranoplane. At the same time, the article assesses the capabilities of the new Russian « Vostochny » cosmodrome in servicing both vertical launch vehicles traditional for Russia and the possibility of using the Pacific Ocean regions for space launches and landings. For the first time, the idea and structure of the mechanisms for docking two winged aircraft are considered, moreover, at the final stage of the flight. Such a docking may be required in the implementation of other space transport systems, and the need for a deeper study of the problem is clear, first of all, working out the dynamics and modeling of all elements involved in the docking process. This topic is of particular relevance within the framework of the specialized “Space Flight Safety” issue of the magazine. Two more topics covered in the article may also be relevant for readers. This is the rationale for the development of a heavy ekranoplane with a mass of about a thousand tons, several areas of application of which are already clear, and the development of a wide-range air-breathing jet engine. Such an engine could make it possible to implement the idea of a single-stage spacecraft that could become truly reusable. The detailed description made in the first part of the article about many unsuccessful attempts to achieve the reusability of space technologies should also be recognized as useful.
The concept of winged space vehicle marine horizontal landing by docking with ekranoplane
Acta Astronautica ; 205 ; 332-343
2022-09-02
12 pages
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
WIG-Craft , Ekranoplane , Aerospace plane , Approaching , Docking , Landing
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