Assessment Of Opportunity To Use Currently Existing Aircraft For Launch Of The Demonstrator Of Reusable Stages Of Future Launch Vehicles (FLEX)

Paper number

IAC-07-D2.6.10

Author

Dr. Anton Kolozezny, Central Research Institute of Machine Building (TSNIIMASH), Russia

Coauthor

Mr. Nikolai Panichkin, Central Research Institute of Machine Building (TSNIIMASH), Russia

Coauthor

Dr. Alexey Romashkin, Central Research Institute of Machine Building (TSNIIMASH), Russia

Coauthor

Mr. Eric Louaas, Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), France

Coauthor

Mr. Yves Prel, Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), France

Coauthor

Mr. Michel Rigault, Dassault Aviation, France

Coauthor

Mr. Marco Prampolini, EADS Astrium, France

Year

2007

Abstract

Nowadays activities on future launch vehicles based on reusable stages are being performed by industrial and research companies of European Union countries and Russia within the frame of the joint program Oural.
Previous world experience associated with development and production of reusable space technologies says that without real environment tests on demonstrators it is virtually impossible to assess operational capability and reliability of the most loaded elements (engines, propellant management systems, heat protection, fuselage structures, landing devices, etc) being under durable joint influence of aerodynamic, thermal, vibrating, acoustic and other loads as well as to define stability and controllability parameters for various portions of the mission including launch, re-entry, landing approach, landing, inter-flight maintenance, etc.

In the course of 2005 and 2006 TsNIIMash, ASTRIUM Space Transportation, Dassault Aviation and SNECMA with participation of Roscosmos and CNES studied various concepts of the FLEX demonstrator aimed at maturing of technologies for reusable stages of future launch vehicles. 
The main goal of the FLEX demonstrator is experimental validation (with a certain degree of authenticity) of technical performance and reliability of future launch vehicles. Besides it is assumed that usage of the demonstrator will cut costs and time period associated with creation of reusable stages of future launch vehicles.
	
One of the concepts of the FLEX demonstrator chosen for further development foresees its launch from a carrier-aircraft.
The paper contains major advantages and shortcomings of the concept presuming launch of the FLEX off its carrier-aircraft as well as the results of studies of different options of FLEX demonstrator launch from various Russian and European aircraft.

Basing on the results of the studies there were elaborated recommendations concerning choice of aircraft preferable for launch of the FLEX demonstrator.

The results gained could be used to assess opportunity and expediency of creation of concepts of the FLEX demonstrator being launched from an aircraft.

Abstract document

IAC-07-D2.6.10.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-07-D2.6.10.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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