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.

[thumbnail of Maddock-etal-IAC-2019-Multidisciplinary-design-analysis-of-a-semi-reusable-two-stage-to-orbit-small-payload-launch-system]
Preview
 Text. Filename: Maddock_etal_IAC_2019_Multidisciplinary_design_analysis_of_a_semi_reusable_two_stage_to_orbit_small_payload_launch_system.pdf
Accepted Author Manuscript
Download (37kB)| Preview

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.

CORE (COnnecting REpositories)