Flight Testing of a New Earth-to-Orbit Air Launch Method

Abstract

This paper describes the development and flight testing of a new air-launch method for safely launching personnel and cargo into low Earth orbit (LEO). A new rocket is also being designed that will be carried by and launched using the new air-launch method from a modified 747 airliner. This new air-launch method, called trapeze-lanyard air drop (t/LAD) launch, will greatly improve simplicity, safety, cost, and reliability of launching personnel into LEO. A t/LAD launch eliminates the need for wings or fins on the launch vehicle; greatly reduces ascent dynamic pressure, sideways accelerations and bending forces, and rocket engine thrust vectoring control; and allows the use of a simple and very safe vapor pressurization (Vapak) engine cycle for the launch vehicle. This paper reports on the flight-test results of dropping three 23%-scale drop test articles using the t/LAD launch method.