Improved airbreathing launch vehicle performance with the use of rocket propulsion

Abstract

An efficient performance analysis method is developed to evaluate potential airbreathing/rocket propulsion systems for advanced technology single-stage-to-orbit launch vehicles. Evaluated are tradeoffs between airbreathing, rocket, and concurrent airbreathing/rocket propulsion in maximizing payload delivery to orbit for a given ascent flight trajectory. With the analysis method, several modes of airbreathing/ rocket propulsion are compared to a baseline alone propulsion system in terms of fuel/propella nt required to attain orbital velocity. Concurrent airbreathing/rocket propulsion shows a reduction in fuel/propellant consumption over straight airbreather to rocket propulsion transition. The optimal switch point (staging) is identified for the transition from airbreathing to rocket propulsion.