SpaceLiner Rocket-Powered High-Speed Passenger Transportation Concept Evolving in FAST20XX

Paper number

IAC-10.D2.4.6

Author

Dr. Martin Sippel, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), Germany

Coauthor

Mr. Arnold van Foreest, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), Germany

Year

2010

Abstract

A strategic vision has been proposed by DLR in 2005 [1] which ultimately has the potential to enable sustainable low-cost space transportation to orbit and while at the same time revolutionizing ultra-long distance travel between different points on earth. By strongly surging the number of launches per year manufacturing and operating cost of launcher hardware should dramatically shrink. 
Ultra fast transportation, much faster than supersonic and even potential hypersonic airplanes, is definitely a fundamental new application for launch vehicles. Such a new kind of ‘space tourism’ based on a two-stage reusable launch vehicle (RLV) has been proposed by DLR under the name {\bf SpaceLiner}. 

Early technical feasibility analyses of DLR indicate that a vertically launched rocket powered two-stage space vehicle is able to transport about 50 passengers over distances of up to 17000 km in about 1.5 hours and 100 passengers over 8800 km in 1 hour. Technical data of this configuration including its innovative cooling concept has been published in reference 2. 

The revolutionary ultrafast transport SpaceLiner is now under investigation in the EU-funded study FAST20XX ({\bf F}uture high-{\bf A}ltitude high-{\bf S}peed {\bf T}ransport {\bf 20XX}) set off in December 2009. This multinational and multi disciplinary program will mature required technologies and should evolve and consolidate the SpaceLiner vehicle.

The paper describes the latest progress of the configuration:
\begin{itemize}\item Vehicle trade-off studies (choice of propellant RP vs. LH2, staging (e.g. challenges of single stage concepts for shorter distances))\end{itemize}
\begin{itemize}\item Adaptation of the configurations to different missions with limited number of different vehicle types\end{itemize}
\begin{itemize}\item Pre-development of a passenger rescue capsule\end{itemize}
\begin{itemize}\item Aerodynamic shape refinement\end{itemize}
\begin{itemize}\item Resizing and optimisation of the passenger stage including establishing a preliminary structural concept\end{itemize}

1.	Sippel, M., Klevanski, J., Steelant, J.: Comparative Study on Options for High-Speed Intercontinental Passenger Transports: Air-Breathing- vs. Rocket-Propelled, IAC-05-D2.4.09, October 2005

2.	Sippel, M., van Foreest, A.: Latest Progress in Research on the SpaceLiner High-Speed Passenger Transportation Concept, IAC-07-D2.7.07, September 2007

Abstract document

IAC-10.D2.4.6.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-10.D2.4.6.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.