The Air Launch System Enabling Technology (ALSET) small launch vehicle research and development project was initiated in response to the growing small satellite market and the desire to promote general space commercialization. An air launch approach to space transportation provides high reliability, flexibility, and responsiveness to meet the future needs of small satellite operators. The ALSET technology development effort will culminate with a drop test of an inert launch vehicle (a mass simulator). This paper will introduce the ALSET project system concept, extraction method, preliminary air drop analysis, and test approach.
展开▼
