The Disruptive Potential of Subsonic Air-Launch

Abstract

This paper tries to show that big launch vehicles may not be required to enable big space operations. It first highlight the essential role of space launch in enabling all space operations and indicates the dominant role that ‘customer’ demand has played in both enabling and constraining its development. It then discusses the advantages and drawbacks of a subsonic air-launched reusable launch vehicle (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 architectures afforded by such a vehicle. It shows how an RLV with a relatively modest launch performance of less than 5 t 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 infrastructure.