RU2432303C1 - Method of launching spaceships by reusable system and system for multiple launching of spaceships - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: transport.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates aerospace engineering, particularly, to method of multiple launching of spaceships by reusable system. Proposed method comprises step-by-step launch of space objects by carrier rocket in near space, including stratosphere, by means of device comprising aircraft airframe and power plant, and directing said objects in space by carrier rocket. Injecting to near earth space of aircraft airframe is performed using winch fixed on earth surface. Front part of cable rope is secured to aircraft airframe while its rear end is placed in pool with nonfreezing liquid. Proposed system comprises aircraft airframe, power plant, and rocket carrier with space object mounted in said aircraft airframe. Said winch makes power plant. Cable rope front end if equipped with parachute while cable rope proper is laid on rollers fixed in box.

EFFECT: fuel savings.

3 cl, 4 dwg

Description

The invention relates to rocket and space technology and, in particular, to devices for launching space objects into space.

One of the most important characteristics of rocket systems for launching space objects into space is the cost-effectiveness of launching space objects, the indicator of which is the cost of launching 1 kg of payload into space, which currently amounts to 10 ... 40 thousand US dollars [J. “Cosmonautics News” No. 3, 2009, p. 71]. Such a high cost makes it difficult to widely exploit outer space. A significant reduction in the cost of launching into space of one kilogram of payload (up to $ 2000 US) is supposed to be obtained using a reusable aerospace system (MAKS) [J. “Cosmonautics News” No. 3, 2009, p. 72], however, even this estimated cost remains prohibitive.

The known method of launching into space using a rocket stage of a reusable aerospace system (MAKS) of space objects consisting of an airplane and mounted on its fuselage includes horizontal take-off, ascent to a certain height (~ 14 km) and acceleration to the maximum possible estimated speed of an equipped airborne -reactive engines (WFD) of an airplane, vertical take-off and launch into space of a space stage equipped with rocket engines [J. “Cosmonautics News” No. 3, 2009, p. 72].

A device is known for launching into space using a reusable aerospace system (MAKS) space objects containing an aircraft equipped with air jet engines (WF), on the fuselage of which is fixed a rocket stage equipped with rocket engines (RD).

The device operates as follows. A plane with a missile stage fixed on its fuselage is displayed on the runway. Starts the WFD of the aircraft. It runs up, takes off, rises to a height of 13 ... 14 km and accelerates to the calculated value of the flight speed. Upon reaching the estimated flight speed, the rocket stage taxiways are launched. Upon reaching the calculated mode of operation of the taxiway, the rocket stage is disconnected from the aircraft and goes into outer space. After disconnecting the rocket stage, the aircraft enters a descent mode and, upon reaching the earth's surface, lands on the runway. In the known method and device, a significant part of the fuel for the operation of aircraft engines is spent on raising the aircraft to the estimated altitude at which the rocket stage of the aircraft starts. The cost of this fuel is a significant fraction of the cost of launching a space object into space, which is a disadvantage of the known method and device for launching space objects into space.

The technical problem solved by the invention is to develop a method and system for reusable launch into space of space objects, providing a lower cost of launching these objects into space.

This is achieved by the fact that in the known method of launching space objects into space using a reusable system consisting of an aircraft equipped with air-jet engines (WRE) and equipped with a rocket stage equipped with liquid-propellant rocket engines (LRE), including the launch of the WRE, the take-off run runway (runway), takeoff, rise to a given height, accelerating the aircraft to a predetermined speed and starting rocket engines (RD) of the rocket stage, according to the invention, they first take off Runways, take-off, climb to a predetermined height by the towing aircraft by a cable driven by the fixed on the earth's surface in the direction of flight of the winch, and only after that start WFD plane, acceleration is carried out to a preset speed and then launching the rocket stage LRE.

This can also be achieved by the fact that in the known method, before launching, additional tanks with rocket fuel are installed in the aircraft, and after reaching the specified altitude and flight speed when the aircraft tows it, turn on the fuel supply from these tanks to the LRE, start these engines and after emptying the additional tanks disconnect the rocket stage from the plane and direct it into space, and the plane to the runway.

This is also achieved by the fact that in the known system for re-launching space objects into space, including a plane mounted on a runway with a rocket stage mounted on its fuselage equipped with liquid rocket engines (LRE), a cable from mounted on the earth's surface in the direction of flight of the winch. The end of the cable connected to the aircraft is equipped with a brake parachute, and the cable itself is laid on rollers fixed, for example, in the box. The second end of the cable at the exit of the winch is skipped between two additional rollers mounted on a console fixed with the possibility of swinging it in a horizontal plane, this end of the cable is directed to a pool with non-freezing liquid.

In addition, the wings (gliders) are fixed along the entire length of the part of the cable lifted into the air at intervals of, for example, one kilometer. The winch used in the system is made, for example, in the form of two multi-ribbed friction pulleys onto which a cable laid in brooks is sequentially wound, while the pulley shafts are connected to a gas turbine or electric drive. The console with rollers in the system is connected to the drive to swing it in a horizontal plane.

Figure 1 shows the system in plan. Figure 2 schematically shows the system at the stage of completion of the tow. Figure 3 shows (enlarged) fragment I of figure 1. Figure 4 shows a winch.

The system comprises an aircraft 1, consisting of an airplane 2 and a rocket stage 3. A winch 5 is connected to the apparatus 1 via a cable 4. At the exit of the winch 5, the cable 4 is lowered into the pool 6 with non-freezing liquid. Between the aircraft 1 and the winch 5, the cable 4 is laid on rollers fixed, for example, in the box 7. Through the winch 5, the cable 4 is pulled by means of a drive 9, which can be made in the form of a gas turbine unit or a power unit with electric motors. To reduce the load on the winch 5, part of the rollers 8 can be equipped with self-contained drives with overrunning clutches 10. To streamline the laying of the cable 4 in the pool 6 at the outlet of the winch 5, it is passed between two additional rollers 11 mounted on the console 12. The console 12 when starting the aircraft the apparatus 1 performs oscillatory movements with the help of a servo drive 13. To prevent the disordered movement of the cable 4 after undocking it in flight from the aircraft 1 and maintaining it in a taut state on the docked to For the styling device 1, a brake parachute 14 is fixed at the end of the cable 4.

When the aircraft 1 is lifted using the cable 4 upwards, the vertical component of the cable tension force, as well as the weight of the cable, will also act on the aircraft, in addition to gravity. To reduce this force or completely eliminate it, one or more glider-like wings 15 can be fixed on the cable (at a certain distance from the aircraft) 15. During take-off, the aircraft accelerates along the runway (runway) 16. Box 16 fixed to the runway 7 is performed with transverse dimensions smaller than the transverse dimensions of the opening between the wheels of the chassis (the chassis is not shown in the figure) of the aircraft 1. This ensures the unhindered movement of the aircraft along the runway above the box.

The winch 5 is made, for example, in the form of two parallel friction pulleys with brooks 19, on which a cable 4 is wound. Shafts 18 of the drums are driven by a drive 9. Gas turbine or other engines can be used as a source of mechanical energy in this drive.

The system works as follows. On runway 6 above the box 7, an aircraft 1 is installed with the landing gear brake applied. The front end of the cable 4 pre-stacked on the rollers 8 is docked to the aircraft 1 and the brake parachute 14 is folded. On take-off command, the winch 5 is launched with the help of the drive 9 and the cable 4 is pulled with its help. Upon reaching the required cable tension 4, the aircraft landing gear is released and he begins to take off. When it reaches a speed sufficient for takeoff, it moves along an inclined path to climb. Upon reaching a predetermined (calculated) altitude, for example 14 km, the aircraft switches to horizontal flight. Upon reaching the maximum achievable design speed using the winch, the engine's WFD 2 of the aircraft 1 is launched and after they develop a thrust close to or greater than the thrust generated by the winch, the cable 4 with the brake parachute 14 is disconnected from the aircraft 1, the brake parachute 14 is opened, and the cable 4 with the help of a winch is fed into a pool with non-freezing fluid, where it is braked and due to swinging in one (horizontal) plane of the console 12 with rollers 11, it is orderly lowered to the bottom of the pool 6.

After undocking the cable 4 from the aircraft 1, it is accelerated with the help of the WFD to the maximum achievable height and flight speed of the aircraft, then rocket engines of the second stage 3 are started and after they return to normal operation, the second stage is undocked from the plane 2 and leaves into space, and the plane goes to runway 16 for landing.

The equipment of a part of the rollers with the drives 10 will reduce the load on the winch at the time of starting the aircraft in ground conditions, and the use of the drives 10 with overrunning clutches will allow the free rotation of the rollers 8 when the drives are off 10. Fastening 4 auxiliary wings 15 on the front of the cable will reduce the vertical load by aircraft 1, and also reduce sagging cable 4.

In accordance with the second embodiment of the method, tanks with rocket fuel can be mounted on an airplane and these tanks can be attached to rocket engines of the rocket stage, i.e. Use the plane as a cargo glider. In this case, the aircraft will perform the function of rescuing additional tanks.

This version of the system works as follows. By towing the aircraft accelerate to the maximum achievable altitude and speed. After that, they turn on the supply of rocket fuel from tanks located on the plane, launch rocket engines, disconnect the cable and direct the aircraft into space. After emptying the tanks installed on the aircraft, the missile stage is separated from the aircraft and continues to fly into space, and the aircraft is sent to the runway. In this case, low-powered landing air-propelled wing aircraft can be used on an airplane.

As follows from the description of the system, the invention will allow the aircraft not only to rise to the required height for the launch of the rocket stage with idle aircraft propulsion, but also to accelerate it to a certain speed, which will significantly reduce the amount of fuel required compared to the known method and device for the WFD of an aircraft, and thereby significantly reduce the cost of launching into space 1 kg of payload.

It should also be noted that launching an aircraft WFD in flight mode will allow the use of ramjet engines or hypersonic ramjet engines (GPVRD), which allow the aircraft to be dispersed to higher altitudes and flight speeds (for landing) aircraft on the runway can be used with additional low-power gas turbine engines (GTE)).

An analysis of the feasibility of the proposed method and system for multiple launching of space objects shows that for the case considered in the application, a cable length of ≈100 km is required. We will evaluate its geometric and weight characteristics.

Suppose that it is made of material similar to the fishing line material. According to price tags in stores, for example, using a fishing line with a thickness of 0.45 mm, you can raise fish weighing up to 18 kg. If a cable is made from such a material, the calculation shows that to create a thrust F = 100 tc, a cable with a diameter of ≈34 mm is required. With the density of the cable material, for example, ρ = 1.5 g / cm ^{3, the} weight of such a cable 100 km long will be P = l35 tc. This rough evaluation example shows the possibility of practical implementation of the invention.

Claims (3)

1. A method for re-launching space objects into space, including the phased launch of these space objects together with a launch vehicle into the near-Earth airspace, including the stratosphere, using a device containing an airplane glider and a power plant, and then directing these space objects into space using a launch vehicle, characterized in that the output of the airframe into the near-Earth airspace is carried out using a winch fixed on the earth’s surface in the direction of flight, the middle part of the cable is docked to the glider of the aircraft, and the rear is directed into the pool with non-freezing liquid. 2. A system for re-launching space objects into space, comprising an airplane glider, a power plant, as well as a launch vehicle with a space object installed in an airplane glider, characterized in that a winch is fixed to the earth's surface as a power plant, the front of which is docked to the glider of the aircraft, and the rear part is skipped between the rollers mounted on the console mounted with the possibility of swinging in the horizontal plane, and directed into the pool with non-freezing liquid, while The front part of the cable is equipped with a brake parachute, and the cable itself is laid on rollers fixed, for example, in the box. 3. The system according to claim 2, characterized in that the wings (gliders) are fixed along the entire length of the part of the cable lifted into the air at intervals of, for example, one kilometer.

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