Sub-Orbital Rockets the Fast and Easy Way to Reach Space

Paper number

IAC-18,D2,6,7,x46408

Author

Mr. Christian Lockowandt, Sweden, SSC

Coauthor

Mr. Gunnar Florin, Sweden, Swedish Space Corporation

Coauthor

Mr. Mattias Abrahamsson, Sweden, Swedish Space Corporation

Coauthor

Mr. Mats Tyni, Sweden, SSC

Year

2018

Abstract

The sub-orbital – or sounding – rocket started the space era in the end of the 1940s. It has since then been a reliable and cost efficient work horse for different types of near earth space and atmosphere missions. Nevertheless the sub-orbital rockets are continuously subject to improvements and developments, recently many new operators are trying to provide suborbital flight opportunities, having identified a growing demand in this field. 

The sub-orbital rocket has many positive qualities, such as;  low cost, few safety constraints, late access and fast recovery (1 h), flight opportunity on demand, high flexibility, long flight heritage combined with new technologies, being  the only platform available for reaching 50 – 300 km altitudes. The sub-orbital rockets are used for many different applications, such as; ionospheric physics, astronomy, meteorology and atmospheric physics, climate studies, research in microgravity, technical tests, drop- and re-entry tests.
 
The SSC launch facility Esrange Space Center in northern part of Sweden offers the ideal place for performing launches of sub-orbital rockets of all categories. It includes a large ground impact area of 5600 km2 in which the rockets and payloads can be recovered directly after flight on land with helicopters. Esrange Space Center is a unique asset being the only place in Europe were one can launch and perform land recovery of the payload and the suborbital rocket. 

SSC offers since a long time complete sounding rocket missions with different levels of capacities for different applications and use. This service is provided as a “flight ticket” for the user, offered at different service levels from small “rack” mounted experiment units up to complete payloads. Focus is on providing a service capacity that fulfils the users’ needs in a cost efficient way, utilising newly developed technology as well as existing rocket technology. This concept is further elaborated in the presentation and paper.

Abstract document

IAC-18,D2,6,7,x46408.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-18,D2,6,7,x46408.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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