Multidisciplinary design analysis of a semi-reusable two-stage-to-orbit small payload launch system

Maddock, Christie and Ricciardi, Lorenzo Angelo and Toso, Federico and Vasile, Massimiliano (2019) Multidisciplinary design analysis of a semi-reusable two-stage-to-orbit small payload launch system. In: International Astronautical Congress 2019, 2019-10-21 - 2019-10-25.

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Abstract

This paper contains an analysis of the design trade-ofs for a semi-reusable two-stage to orbit, rocket- powered launch system for small payloads. The system is to be air-launched of a modifed commercial aircraft with a full reusable, flight capable return vehicle. This allows the system to be operational from any suitable space or airport; a increasingly common aim of new, agile launch concepts for small payloads. The system was modelled with a multidisciplinary design optimisation (MDO) framework using two different optimal control solvers: MODHOC, a multi-objective optimiser that combined an evolutionary- based global optimisation together with a collocation-based optimal control solver; and TROPICO, a single-objective optimiser using a direct multi-shooting approach.

ORCID iDs

Maddock, Christie ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1079-4863, Ricciardi, Lorenzo Angelo ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0895-7961, Toso, Federico ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9698-5523 and Vasile, Massimiliano ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8302-6465;