As an alternative to magnetic propulsion for launch assist, the authors propose a pneumatic launch assist system. Using off the shelf components, coupled with familiar steel and concrete construction, a launch assist system can be brought from the initial feasibility stage, through a flight capable 5000 kg. demonstrator to a deployed full size launch assist system in 10 years. The final system would be capable of accelerating a 450,000 kg. vehicle to 270 meters per second. The CELT system uses commercially available compressors and valves to build a fail-safe system in less than half the time of a full Mag-Lev (magnetic levitation) system, and at a small fraction of the development cost. The resulting system could be ready in time to support some Gen 2 (generation 2) vehicles, as well as the proposed Gen 3 vehicle.
Closed End Launch Tube (CELT)
Space Technology and International Forum ; 2001 ; Albuquerque, NM, United States
2000-01-01
Preprint
No indication
English
NTIS | 2000
|British Library Conference Proceedings | 2004
|British Library Conference Proceedings | 2001
|American Institute of Physics | 2001
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