Earth-to-space and high-speed “air” transportation: an aerospaceplane design

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to attempt an aerospaceplane design with the objective of Low-Earth-Orbit-and-Return-to-Earth (LEOARTE) under the constraints of safety, low cost, reliability, low maintenance, aircraft-like operation and environmental compatibility. Along the same lines, a “sister” point-to-point flight on Earth Suborbital Aerospaceplane is proposed. Design/methodology/approach The LEOARTE aerospaceplane is based on a simple design, proven low risk technology, a small payload, an aerodynamic solution to re-entry heating, the high-speed phase of the outgoing flight taking place outside the atmosphere, a propulsion system comprising turbojet and rocket engines, an Air Collection and Enrichment System (ACES) and an appropriate mission profile. Findings It was found that a LEOARTE aerospaceplane design subject to the specified constraints with a cost as low as 950 United States Dollars (US$) per kilogram into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) might be feasible. As indicated by a case study, a LEOARTE aerospaceplane could lead, among other activities in space, to economically viable Space-Based Solar Power (SBSP). Its “sister” Suborbital aerospaceplane design could provide high-speed, point-to-point flights on the Earth. Practical implications The proposed LEOARTE aerospaceplane design renders space exploitation affordable and is much safer than ever before. Originality/value This paper provides an alternative approach to aerospaceplane design as a result of a new aerodynamically oriented Thermal Protection System (TPS) and a, perhaps, improved ACES. This approach might initiate widespread exploitation of space and offer a solution to the high-speed “air” transportation issue.

A simulation of the thermal environment of a plastic body of a new type of launch vehicle at the atmospheric phase of the trajectory

“…Definitely, the influence of the motion trajectory on aerothermodynamic processes has been studied earlier in many works, for example (ul Islam Rizvi et al, 2015;Kehayas, 2018). However, the implementation of new promising materials in aerospace structures (Basheer, 2020) requires research studies on thermal resistance under extreme heating conditions.…”