Could a subsonic air-launched RLV enable a paradigm shift in space operations?

Abstract

This paper first discusses the political and economic factors that limit current space operations and then describes how these factors would have to be changed in order to realise the extremely ambitious operational scenarios envisaged during the first decade of the space age. It highlights the essential role of the launch vehicle in enabling all space operations but also shows the dominant role that ‘customer’ demand has played in both enabling and constraining the development of those same operations. Having identified space launch as a fundamental enabler of future space operations, the paper then discusses the advantages and drawbacks of a subsonic air-launched RLV; comparing and contrasting them against a wide range of other possible launcher concepts. In doing this it highlights the unique evolutionary opportunities that this concept has to offer and provides some insight as to how these may be realised and enhanced via existing technologies. Finally, the paper highlights the radical improvements in operational architecture afforded by such a vehicle. It shows how an RLV with a relatively modest launch performance of less than 5t to low Earth orbit could be capable of supporting almost all current and future launch demand by forming the key element of a fully reusable space transportation network.