AIAA SPACE 2012 Conference &Amp; Exposition 2012
DOI: 10.2514/6.2012-5157
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Abstract: Horizontal launch has been investigated for 60 years by over 130 different studies. During this time only one concept, Pegasus, has ever been in operation. The attractiveness of horizontal launch is the capability to provide a "mobile launch pad" that can use existing aircraft runways, cruise above weather, loiter for mission instructions, and provide precise placement for orbital intercept, rendezvous, or reconnaissance.A jointly sponsored study by DARPA and NASA, completed in 2011, explored the trade space o… Show more

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Cited by 5 publications
(7 citation statements)
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“…According to Ref. (6), the top carry configuration is also demanding a minimum separation distance between the carrier aircraft and the test vehicle before igniting any booster engines on the test vehicle.…”
Section: Top Carry Configurationmentioning
confidence: 99%
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“…According to Ref. (6), the top carry configuration is also demanding a minimum separation distance between the carrier aircraft and the test vehicle before igniting any booster engines on the test vehicle.…”
Section: Top Carry Configurationmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…This study focuses only on subsonic launch carrier aircraft. Previous horizontal launch-to-orbit studies have identified that a supersonic/hypersonic carrier vehicle with a payload of 6,800kg (15,000lb) would require development of a new aircraft, which is cost prohibitive for their presumed six flights per year (6) . The DARPA/NASA study in Ref.…”
Section: Consideration Of Hypersonic Programs and Carrier Vehiclesmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…RDT&E costs for a new Earth-to-orbit technology demonstrator are estimated to be approximately $10 billion in 2010 dollars for a new subsonic carrier aircraft, and as high as $17 billion for a new supersonic and $25 billion for a new hypersonic carrier aircraft. 10 Amortized over each launch, this adds between $6,000 and $13,000 per pound of payload and soon overwhelms all other costs. Thus, the authors recommend that if the government decides to pursue horizontal launch they should allow commercial firms to bear the largest burden of cost and risk.…”
Section: Launch Cost Reductions and The Development Of Hybrid Or Rmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…at a cost of $8,860 per lb., with overall RDT&E costs estimated at less than $2 billion if using current technology and partnering with commercial entities. 10 In their view, horizontal launch is a competitive alternative to expendable launch vehicles for LEO missions that value responsiveness and flexibility. 10 While all of the work described above may not seem particularly hopeful with regards to the prospects of a viable, less expensive launch capability, there have been more concrete developments along this trend in private industry.…”
Section: Launch Cost Reductions and The Development Of Hybrid Or Rmentioning
confidence: 99%
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