SWORDS LOW COST DEDICATED NANOSATELLITE LAUNCHER

Paper number

IAC-12,D2,7,x16358

Author

Ms. Tamara Cottam, University of Alabama in Huntsville, United States

Year

2012

Abstract

Thus there is a clear and growing world-wide demand for a dedicated, small, low cost launch vehicle optimized for very small satellites. The United States Army, in cooperation with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is in the process of developing the SWORDS launch vehicle to meet this need. A dedicated launcher would place 1 to 25 kilogram class satellites into an orbit when and where they were needed. The SWORDS launch vehicle is scheduled for an orbital flight test in the summer of 2014. Production launch vehicles are projected to have a recurring cost of just one million US dollars, and can carry payloads up to 25 kilograms to a 750 kilometer orbit at 28.5 degree inclination when launching from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.
In order to achieve a breakthrough in launch costs, an entirely different type of approach to rocket design is used, as well as a different concept of operations for launch base processing. Traditional rocket design practice is to optimize launch vehicle performance. This has led to the use of expensive materials to obtain optimum performance out of the rocket. By selecting low cost materials, eliminating expensive components and optimizing for cost, a low cost dedicated launch vehicle for very small satellites is possible. The SWORDS vehicle uses a pressurization system for propellant feed instead of a heavy, complex and expensive turbopump. It uses thrust magnitude control between four engines to achieve steering instead of a nozzle gimbal system. Common materials such as stainless steel are used. Liquid oxygen is used as an oxidizer and liquid methane is used as a fuel because they are widely available at reasonable cost. Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) electronics will be used wherever possible. The technical challenge of the SWORDS rocket is in the systems engineering. It is the proper selection of low cost components for use in the proper applications that is the key to achieving low cost.

Abstract document

IAC-12,D2,7,x16358.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-12,D2,7,x16358.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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