1. 1 Air Launch System Project Proposal February 11, 2008 Dan Poniatowski (Team Lead) Matt Campbell Dan Cipera Pierre Dumas Boris Kaganovich Jason LaDoucer Isaac Landecker Brandon Miller Long Nguyen Rizwan Qureshi Angela Reesman Cory Sorensen

2. 2 Objective Design a multi-stage vehicle that is launched from high altitude and is capable of delivering a small payload to the ISS. The vehicle must be readily available, simple to use and require a minimum amount of preparation prior to launch.

3. 3 Requirements The launch vehicle shall physically fit beneath the carrier aircraft. –The launch vehicle shall be within the design space defined by the aircraft team. The carrier aircraft shall be capable of lifting off with the launch vehicle. –The launch vehicle/aircraft combination shall not exceed the aircraft’s maximum takeoff weight. –The launch vehicle shall retain the aircraft’s maximum weight takeoff performance. The carrier aircraft shall be capable of reaching desired launch conditions with vehicle. –The vehicle shall remain attached to the aircraft for all approved maneuvers.

4. 4 Requirements The launch vehicle trajectory shall follow a gravity-turn trajectory. The launch vehicle shall use existing solid rocket fuels and engines. –Rocket engines utilized by the booster shall be in current production. The upper stage shall have sufficient delta-v capability to transfer from the insertion orbit and rendezvous with the ISS. –The satellite shall be of adequate size to hold the fuel required for ISS rendezvous. –The nose of the booster shall be of adequate size to contain the sized satellite.

5. 5 Expectations Conduct a level zero analysis of each component (aircraft, booster and satellite). Explain trade study results for aircraft, boosters and satellites. Provide a detailed design of the aircraft attachments. Conduct gravity-turn simulations and describe the results. Provide a detailed description of the hardware components used by the satellite. Produce a CAD model of the booster and the satellite.

6. 6 Major Tasks Aircraft Analysis 1. Identify several potential carrier aircraft - Vertical clearance beneath aircraft - Longitudinal clearance beneath aircraft (ie, from front wheels to rear wheels or other obstructions) - Lateral clearance beneath aircraft - Maximum takeoff weight - Derive maximum dimensions and mass of launch vehicle - Derive the maximum flight path angle as a function of launch vehicle mass, altitude, velocity 2. Perform structural analysis for attachments - Compare with loads associated with ordinance which the aircraft is already designed to carry - Design attachment structure and release mechanism

7. 7 Major Tasks Booster Design 1. Compute delta-v capability for single- and multi-stage launch vehicle configurations 2. Conduct gravity-turn trajectory simulations with single- and multi- stage launch vehicle configurations 3. Design a multi-stage rocket to reach ISS orbit from your launch conditions - Begin with a scaled-down Pegasus model - Change the stages to use existing engines that fit your geometry requirements

8. 8 Major Tasks Satellite Design 1. Compute the delta-v requirements (per day) to station-keep with the ISS. - Observe difference between disturbance forces - Consider effect of navigation error 2. Compute the minimum fuel required for the upper stage, in order to perform orbit transfer and station-keep with the ISS for 30 days. 3. Perform initial sizing of upper stage based on volume and mass of the fuel and the tank. - Calculate the fuel needed to reach ISS orbit. 4. Further refine the upper stage design. Determine the necessary hardware components to conduct the mission. Use the Swedish PRISMA spacecraft as an example. Develop an itemized mass budget and conduct meaningful analyses to size all components. 5. Develop a basic CAD model of the launch vehicle and upper stage satellite. The satellite must fit within the nose cone of the launch vehicle.

9. 9 Team Organization

10. 10 Task Breakdown 1. Trade Studies – Provide specifications, pros and cons of many options. 1. Fighter Aircraft – Possible vehicle launch platforms (Landecker) 2. Bomber Aircraft – Possible vehicle launch platforms (Miller) 3. Foreign Aircraft – Possible vehicle launch platforms (Cipera) 4. Commercial Aircraft – Possible vehicle launch platforms (Campbell) 5. Solid Boosters – Existing solid rocket motors (Reesman) 6. Liquid Boosters – Existing liquid rocket motors (Dumas) 7. Hybrid Boosters – Existing hybrid rocket motors (Kaganovich) 8. Pegasus Booster – Gather data on the Pegasus booster for scaling (Qureshi) 9. ISS – Gather data on the orbit and specifications (Nguyen) 10. PRISMA – Gather data on the hardware and specifications to use on the satellite stage (Sorensen) 11. Heat/Radiation Shielding – Materials used to protect the satellite (LaDoucer)

11. 11 Task Breakdown 2. Aircraft Analysis Tasks 1. Attachment Structure 1. Level Zero Design – Text and Paper Method (Miller) 2. CAD Attachment Designs and Test (Miller) 2. Vehicle Metrics 1. Fine specifications of selected launch vehicle (Cipera) 2. Design Space – Create a CAD model (Cipera) 3. Release Mechanism 1. Level Zero Design – Text and Paper Method (Landecker) 2. CAD Release Mechanism and Test (Landecker – design, Campbell – test) 4. Maneuvering Limitations – determine available launch modes (Campbell) 5. Technical Drafting – Create CAD models of aircraft parts. 1. Attachments (Miller) 2. Aircraft and Design Space (Cipera) 3. Release Mechanism (Landecker, Campbell) 6. Miscellaneous 1. Determine manuver required for launch (Cipera) 2. Determine materials for attachments (Miller) 3. Determine materials for release mechanism (Campbell) 4. CAD Model Refinemens – As needed (Landecker) 5. Predict total added aircraft weight (Campbell)

12. 12 Task Breakdown 3.Booster Design Tasks 1. Find delta-v required for transfer to ISS orbit 1. Single Stage (Dumas) 2. Multi Stage (Qureshi) 2. Design Trajectory on STK 1. Single Stage (Dumas) 2. Multi Stage (Qureshi) 3. Scaling of the Pegasus Booster 1. Determine appropriate scaling (Kaganovich) 2. CAD drawing of scaled Pegasus (Kaganovich) 4. Gravity Turn Trajectory Design 1. Pencil/Paper Design, choose simulation environment (Reesman) 2. Perform trajectory simulations (Qureshi) 5. Booster Engines 1. CAD selected booster engines (Reesman) 6. Miscellaneous 1. Determine materials (Dumas) 2. Determine control method – Active or Passive? (Qureshi) 3. Determine final booster weight (Dumas - Materials and Reesman - CAD)

13. 13 Task Breakdown 4. Satellite Design 1. Flight Requirements 1. Compute delta-v required to station keep with the ISS (Sorensen) 2. Compute fuel volume required (LaDoucer) 3. Determine fuel margin required for disturbances – solar pressure, atmospheric drag, etc. (Nguyen) 4. Produce dimension estimate for booster team (LaDoucer) 2. Technical Drafting 1. Rough CAD of satellite shape (Nguyen) 2. CAD hardware components (Sorensen) 3. Refine overall satellite shape based on hardware components (Nguyen) 3. Develop Mass Budget 1. Gather specifications for available hardware (LaDoucer) 2. Choose final components

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19. 19 Any Questions?