MAIN RESULTS OF ANALYSIS OF POSSIBILITY OF USE OF EXISTENT RUSSIAN AIRCRAFT FOR LAUNCH OF DEMONSTRATORS OF REUSABLE STAGES OF FUTURE SPACE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS

摘要

World experience of development and production of space systems including reusable and air-based space launch systems shows that without tests on demonstrators under real flight conditions it is practically impossible to assess working capacity and reliability of the most loaded components (engines, propellant management systems, thermal protection, fuselage structures, separation (descent) units, etc.) under long joint influence of aerodynamic, thermal, vibration, acoustic and other loadings, define parameters of motion stability and controllability for different flight modes including ascent, re-entry, landing, inter-flight servicing and so on. The primary goal in the course of development of flight demonstrators is experimental confirmation of technical performance and reliability of advanced space transportation systems. One of possible concept of demonstrators foresees its launch from a carrier aircraft. In addition, such a demonstrator concept can be converted into a small class air-based space transportation system. The paper presents the expected flight domains for reusable stages of advanced space transportation systems, shows basic advantages and lacks of demonstrator concepts launched from an aircraft, as well as possible areas of such aircraft application to space activities. The criteria of choice of aircraft preferable to launch demonstrators and for application to small satellite launch projects are also presented. The paper contains results of analysis of different launch options for reusable stage demonstrators of advanced space transportation systems with use of different type of currently available Russian aircraft. The findings can be used for estimation of feasibility and viability of concepts of air-based demonstrators taking into account possibility to use them as a small satellite launcher within international cooperation programs.