Analysis of Suborbital Launch Trajectories for Satellite Delivery

Abstract

A computer simulation program was used to analyse performance of suborbital launch trajectories using a hypersonic NASP derived vehicle for satellite deployment. The trajectory investigated for this project involved satellite deployment as suborbital speeds. To deploy a satellite in this manner, a booster motor is used to insert the payload into orbit while the launch vehicle reenters and returns to earth. A simplified energy analysis was also formulated and used to determine the sensitivity of suborbital trajectory performance to specific design parameters. Results show that suborbital launch trajectories can increase the useful payload to orbit capacity over an identical vehicle flying a 'typical' ascent where both the launch vehicle and payload are inserted into orbit. The amount of time available for payload deployment from a suborbital trajectory was also investigated with results showing that time periods on the order of ten minutes could be used for payload deployment.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1991
Accession Number
ADA244048

Entities

People

  • Mark R. Goodell

Organizations

  • Air Force Institute of Technology

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Apogees
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Booster Rocket Engines
  • Computer Simulations
  • Computers
  • Hypersonic Vehicles
  • Launch Vehicles
  • Lifting Bodies
  • Orbits
  • Payload
  • Propulsion Systems
  • Rocket Engines
  • Rocket Propulsion
  • Simulations
  • Spacecraft
  • Suborbital Trajectories

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering.
  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Robotics and Automation.

Technology Areas

  • Hypersonics
  • Hypersonics - Hypersonic Flow
  • Space
  • Space - Satellites
  • Space - Spacecraft Maneuvers