A SUBORBITAL SPACESHIP FOR SHORT SPACE DURATION AND MICRO SATELLITE LAUNCH

摘要

Suborbital reusable launch vehicles have become a hot topic in recent years. This paper discusses launch capabilities of one of such vehicles, which is a small vertical takeoff vertical landing suborbital rocket. This type of launching vehicle provides unique and interesting capabilities for the payload test qualification and development, and for the short duration microgravity experimentation. Other theoretical possible applications include a micro satellite launch and a payload delivery. Here, trajectory design and applications of a suborbital reusable launch vehicle will be discussed in detail. Basically, (1) the first stage of the vertical takeoff vertical landing suborbital rocket can provide 200 seconds combined vacuum, micro gravity and thermal environments. With a second stage, this rocket can (2) provide a possibility for a micro satellite low earth orbital insertion, and (3) deliver a 150 kg upper stage payload over 3180 km or achieving about 1800 seconds of flight time.