Comparative assessment of projects of Russian and foreign Air-Based Space Launch Systems
- Paper number
IAC-05-D2.4.04
- Author
Dr. Alexey Romashkin, Central Research Institute of Machine Building (TSNIIMASH), Russia
- Coauthor
Prof. Vladimir Vakhnichenko, Central Research Institute of Machine Building (TSNIIMASH), Russia
- Year
2005
- Abstract
Nowadays activities on developing air-based space launch systems (ABSLS) are being conducted by a number of Russian and foreign companies.
As a rule an air-based space launch system consists of an aircraft-carrier, a launch vehicle and ground support facilities ABSLS’ can carry LVs of different class (micro, small and medium), use aircraft-carrier of different type (subsonic or supersonic), use different SLV location on the aircraft-carrier (above, inside or underneath the fuselage), etc.
The main advantages of ABSLS versus the traditional launch vehicles are:
- an enhanced performance of ABSLS due to launch from an aircraft-carrier;
- mobility, assurance of high launch efficiency;
- opportunity to launch payloads to a wide range of orbit inclinations;
- increase of launch safety by selecting the SLV launch point so, that the ground trace of ascension part of trajectory would pass beyond the world ocean or thinly populated areas.
The Report presents basic criteria and results of a comparative assessment of Russian and foreign ABSLS.
The results of the comparative assessment may be applied for estimation of priority of known ABSLS projects.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-05-D2.4.04.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.