Title: Propulsion options for orbit-on-demand vehicles
Abstract: Vehicles which can achieve orbit within minutes of a command decision may be needed in the future for a variety of missions. Such orbit-on-demand vehicles may have propulsion requirements that are somewhat different from vehicles designed for routine transportation, but the propulsion evaluation studies of the past need to be considered as a starting point for orbit-on-demand vehicle studies. This paper surveys airbreathing propulsion studies including composite, airturbo-rocket, and scramjet systems and rocket propulsion studies including composite, airturborocket, and scramjet and rocket propulsion studies including dual-fuel and pure hydrocarbon systems. One indication from the results is that a horizontal takeoff airbreathing system with supersonic staging will have a higher development cost than rocket systems primarily because of the cost of the airbreathing engine development. Another indication is that pure hydrocarbon rocket propulsion for a vertical takeoff system may be feasible. Eliminating the requirement for hydrogen fuel may be worthwhile for orbit-on-demand vehicles.
Publication Year: 1984
Publication Date: 1984-02-01
Language: en
Type: article
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Cited By Count: 6
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