Next Generation Of Launch Vehicles Research Articles

Concept of operations for the Neptune system mission Arcanum

AbstractThe Arcanum mission is a proposed L-class mother-daughter spacecraft configuration for the Neptunian system, the mass and volume of which have been maximised to highlight the wide-ranging science the next generation of launch vehicles will enable. The spacecraft is designed to address a long-neglected but high-value region of the outer Solar System, showing that current advances make such a mission more feasible than ever before. This paper adds to a series on Arcanum and specifically provides progress on the study of areas identified as critical weaknesses by the 2013–2022 decadal survey and areas relevant to the recently published Voyage 2050 recommendations to the European Space Agency (ESA).

Soyuz in French Guiana: A strategic perspective

Abstract After a proposition from Russia to France, ESA agreed to see Soyuz rockets take off from French Guiana. From industry, to governments and agencies, many Russian and European actors were involved in this project and they all had different motives. It is therefore relevant to try to discern them so as to understand the rationale behind this cooperative endeavor. Soyuz's primary role is to consolidate Arianespace commercial position in the launching market and to bring activity and founding to a stagnating Russian space sector. With this decision Arianespace will have a full range of commercially available launchers with Soyuz completing the two European rockets Vega and Ariane V. But since Vega and Ariane must have the priority, there is a risk to see an insufficient launch rate for Soyuz, which would not satisfy the Russian partners. Commercial elements alone cannot justify the agreement. There is a larger strategic ambition behind. What is at stake is the future development of innovative launch systems. It is important for ESA to maintain an autonomous access to space and to maintain a dynamic and strong European propulsion industry. Cooperation with Russia can offer an increase of expandable rockets capabilities and can pave for the next generation of launch vehicles. Moreover, we can detect an interest in acquiring a system that has the potential for human space flight capacity. Finally, the decision to launch Soyuz from French Guiana was the conjunction of Russian and French national interests, which led to a complete redefinition of the relations between Europe and Russia. It is of strategic importance that we, Europeans, adapt to this evolution and understand the new place that Russia takes in our space sector.

The study on compatibility of polymer matrix resins with liquid oxygen

Liquid oxygen (LOX) polymer composite tank is very important in the development of next generation of launch vehicles. To study LOX compatible polymeric matrix resins, three kinds of epoxy resins were studied. LOX impact test was used to evaluate polymers’ compatibility with LOX. Thermogravimetric analysis was used to analyze polymers’ oxidation. It seemed that polymers with better anti-oxidation properties, characterized by lower oxidation weight gain, lower weight loss and lower flash point, behaved better LOX compatibility. Fourier transform infrared attenuated total reflection spectroscopy confirmed the chemical reactions during the LOX impact process on the surface of polymers were similar to the oxidation reaction in gaseous oxygen (GOX) at high temperatures, which indicated the chemical mechanism of LOX compatibility of polymers was just oxidation reaction. In this way, two new epoxy resins with desirable LOX compatibility were acquired by modification.