06.1 - Flight Dynamics and Control (Control & Modelling)
STUDY ON CONFIGURATIONS OF AIRBORNE LAUNCH SYSTEM FOR DELIVERY OF SMALL PAYLOAD TO LOW EARTH ORBIT
T. Goetzendorf-Grabowski¹, L. Kiszkowiak², A. Kwiek¹, P. Zalewski², K. Chudy², M. Figat¹; ¹Warsaw University of Technology, Poland ;²Military University of Technology, Poland
The paper presents a feasibility study of airborne launch systems enabling the delivery of a small payload into low Earth orbit. The concept of a disposable rocket launched from a fighter aircraft is being analyzed. As alternatives, the paper investigates a reusable rocket plane carried by a mother plane and a three-stage system with a rocket.