Airborne Launch Assist Space Access (ALASA)
Abstract
The ALASA program has four major goals. The first of these is to make access to space more affordable by reducing the cost per launch to under one million dollars per flight. ALASA accomplishes this by using a simple design, with minimal infrastructure, touch labor, and range support. Secondly, the program seeks to improve the responsiveness of space access by reducing the interval from call-up to launch to a single day. This enables rapid delivery of spacecraft in response to evolving situations, such as a humanitarian crisis or unexpected conflict, and is accomplished by developing rapid mission planning tools which streamline existing range processes, and automated flight safety systems which reduce reliance on expensive and fragile range infrastructure. These tools enable the program's third goal: to escape the limitations of fixed launch sites by achieving a greater flexibility in the direction and location of launch. Finally, ALASA will demonstrate the ability to move its operations from one airfield to another in twelve hours to show resilience in the presence of the initial operating airfield being unavailable, even from factors as relatively innocuous as the weather. The system uses the Air Force's F-15 fleet, getting as much energy as possible from the reusable part of the system, but without costly modifications to the aircraft. Challenges include, but are not limited to: in-air separation of aircraft and orbit-insertion launch stages, development of alternatives to current range processes, and achieving a cost per flight of one million dollars, including range support costs, to deploy satellites on the order of one hundred pounds. The anticipated transition partner is the Air Force.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Accomplishment
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2016
- Source ID
- 30a70976b15a9ef1aabd34458ac11961