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Performance Study Of Two-Stage-To-Orbit Reusable Launch Vehicle Propulsion Alternatives, Marc A. Brock
Performance Study Of Two-Stage-To-Orbit Reusable Launch Vehicle Propulsion Alternatives, Marc A. Brock
Theses and Dissertations
This study investigated the performance of five Two-Stage-To-Orbit reusable launch vehicles (RLV), with stages propelled by rocket engines, turbojet engines and Rocket Based Combined Cycle (RBCC) engines. Horizontal versus vertical takeoff launch and direct versus lifting ascent trajectories were also studied. A method was conceived using a 3 degree of freedom optimization program, stage inert mass fractions, and a fixed gross takeoff weight (GTOW) of 1,000,000 lbf to determine each RLVs performance based on payload weight delivered to orbit and total vehicle inert weight. RLV trajectory constraints, mass fractions, engine performance, and aerodynamics were assumed from literature of similar RLVs …