Space Blast Pipe - an Innovative Space Transportation Concept -
- Paper number
IAC-08.D4.2.9
- Author
Mr. Dominik Quantius, DLR German Aerospace Center, Germany
- Coauthor
Dr. Oliver Romberg, DLR German Aerospace Center, Germany
- Coauthor
Mr. Robin Putzar, Fraunhofer-Institute for High-Speed Dynamics, Germany
- Coauthor
Dr. Frank K. Schaefer, Fraunhofer, Institute for High-Speed Dynamics, Germany
- Year
2008
- Abstract
There is a trend for small satellites to be brought into Low Earth Orbit. The current way by using expendable launchers for transport is accompanied by drawbacks like high cost, danger and pollution. A new visionary long term concept is based on using the pneumatic effect of atmospheric/gas pressure. The key issue of that possible future launch device is a very long evacuated tube called “Space Blast Pipe” (SBP). Inside at the bottom of the tube the payload is installed on a piston like platform. By flooding of the tube bottom side the piston with the payload gets accelerated without propellant driven just by the force of atmospheric or higher gas pressure against the vacuum at the upper side. Thereby, depending on the tube length, platform diameter, pressure, temperature and payload mass theoretically final velocities in the order of magnitude of several km/s are possible. Thus, such kind of device could replace at least the heavy primary stage of a launch system which needs the most propellant. The present paper gives an overview about the basic ideas of the Space Blast Pipe, first technical solutions and elementary performance calculations. The limits concerning the feasibility aspect are discussed.- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-08.D4.2.9.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.