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Air Launch System

Project ProposalFebruary 11, 2008

Dan Poniatowski (Team Lead)Matt CampbellDan CiperaPierre DumasBoris KaganovichJason LaDoucerIsaac LandeckerBrandon MillerLong NguyenRizwan QureshiAngela ReesmanCory Sorensen

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Objective

Design a multi-stage vehicle that is launched from high altitude and is capable of delivering a small payload to the ISS.

The vehicle must be readily available, simple to use and require a minimum amount of preparation prior to launch.

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Requirements• The launch vehicle shall physically fit beneath the

carrier aircraft. – The launch vehicle shall be within the design space defined

by the aircraft team. • The carrier aircraft shall be capable of lifting off with the

launch vehicle. – The launch vehicle/aircraft combination shall not exceed

the aircraft’s maximum takeoff weight.– The launch vehicle shall retain the aircraft’s maximum

weight takeoff performance. • The carrier aircraft shall be capable of reaching desired

launch conditions with vehicle. – The vehicle shall remain attached to the aircraft for all

approved maneuvers.

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Requirements

• The launch vehicle trajectory shall follow a gravity-turn trajectory.

• The launch vehicle shall use existing solid rocket fuels and engines. – Rocket engines utilized by the booster shall be in current

production. • The upper stage shall have sufficient delta-v capability

to transfer from the insertion orbit and rendezvous with the ISS. – The satellite shall be of adequate size to hold the fuel

required for ISS rendezvous. – The nose of the booster shall be of adequate size to

contain the sized satellite.

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Expectations• Conduct a level zero analysis of each component

(aircraft, booster and satellite).

• Explain trade study results for aircraft, boosters and satellites.

• Provide a detailed design of the aircraft attachments.

• Conduct gravity-turn simulations and describe the results.

• Provide a detailed description of the hardware components used by the satellite.

• Produce a CAD model of the booster and the satellite.

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Major TasksAircraft Analysis1. Identify several potential carrier aircraft      - Vertical clearance beneath aircraft      - Longitudinal clearance beneath aircraft (ie, from front

wheels to rear wheels or other obstructions)      - Lateral clearance beneath aircraft      - Maximum takeoff weight      - Derive maximum dimensions and mass of launch vehicle      - Derive the maximum flight path angle as a function of

launch vehicle mass, altitude, velocity2. Perform structural analysis for attachments            - Compare with loads associated with ordinance which the

aircraft is already designed to carry            - Design attachment structure and release mechanism

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Major Tasks

Booster Design

1. Compute delta-v capability for single- and multi-stage launch vehicle configurations 

2. Conduct gravity-turn trajectory simulations with single- and multi-stage launch vehicle configurations

3. Design a multi-stage rocket to reach ISS orbit from your launch conditions

            - Begin with a scaled-down Pegasus model            - Change the stages to use existing engines that fit

your geometry requirements

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Major TasksSatellite Design1. Compute the delta-v requirements (per day) to station-keep with

the ISS.            - Observe difference between disturbance forces            - Consider effect of navigation error2. Compute the minimum fuel required for the upper stage, in

order to perform orbit transfer and station-keep with the ISS for 30 days.

3. Perform initial sizing of upper stage based on volume and mass of the fuel and the tank. 

            - Calculate the fuel needed to reach ISS orbit. 4. Further refine the upper stage design. Determine the necessary

hardware components to conduct the mission. Use the Swedish PRISMA spacecraft as an example. Develop an itemized mass budget and conduct meaningful analyses to size all components. 

5. Develop a basic CAD model of the launch vehicle and upper stage satellite. The satellite must fit within the nose cone of the launch vehicle.

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Team Organization

B ra n d on M ille r

D a n C ip e ra

Isa ac L an d ecker

M a tt C am p b e llS u b Le ad

A irc ra ft A n a lys is

P ie rre D u m as

A n ge la R e e sm an

R izw a n Q u re sh i

B o ris K ag a no v ichS u b Le ad

B o o ste r D e s ign

Ja son La D ou cer

C o ry S ore n son

L o ng N g uyenS u b Le ad

S a tillite D e s ign

T e am Le adD a n P o n ia to w ski

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Task Breakdown1. Trade Studies – Provide specifications, pros and cons of

many options. 1. Fighter Aircraft – Possible vehicle launch platforms (Landecker)2. Bomber Aircraft – Possible vehicle launch platforms (Miller)3. Foreign Aircraft – Possible vehicle launch platforms (Cipera)4. Commercial Aircraft – Possible vehicle launch platforms

(Campbell)5. Solid Boosters – Existing solid rocket motors (Reesman)6. Liquid Boosters – Existing liquid rocket motors (Dumas)7. Hybrid Boosters – Existing hybrid rocket motors (Kaganovich)8. Pegasus Booster – Gather data on the Pegasus booster for

scaling (Qureshi)9. ISS – Gather data on the orbit and specifications (Nguyen)10. PRISMA – Gather data on the hardware and specifications to use

on the satellite stage (Sorensen)11. Heat/Radiation Shielding – Materials used to protect the satellite

(LaDoucer)

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Task Breakdown2. Aircraft Analysis Tasks

1. Attachment Structure1. Level Zero Design – Text and Paper Method (Miller)2. CAD Attachment Designs and Test (Miller)

2. Vehicle Metrics 1. Fine specifications of selected launch vehicle (Cipera)2. Design Space – Create a CAD model (Cipera)

3. Release Mechanism1. Level Zero Design – Text and Paper Method (Landecker)2. CAD Release Mechanism and Test (Landecker – design, Campbell –

test)

4. Maneuvering Limitations – determine available launch modes (Campbell)

5. Technical Drafting – Create CAD models of aircraft parts. 1. Attachments (Miller)2. Aircraft and Design Space (Cipera)3. Release Mechanism (Landecker, Campbell)

6. Miscellaneous1. Determine manuver required for launch (Cipera)2. Determine materials for attachments (Miller)3. Determine materials for release mechanism (Campbell)4. CAD Model Refinemens – As needed (Landecker)5. Predict total added aircraft weight (Campbell)

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Task Breakdown3. Booster Design Tasks

1. Find delta-v required for transfer to ISS orbit1. Single Stage (Dumas)2. Multi Stage (Qureshi)

2. Design Trajectory on STK1. Single Stage (Dumas)2. Multi Stage (Qureshi)

3. Scaling of the Pegasus Booster1. Determine appropriate scaling (Kaganovich)2. CAD drawing of scaled Pegasus (Kaganovich)

4. Gravity Turn Trajectory Design1. Pencil/Paper Design, choose simulation environment (Reesman)2. Perform trajectory simulations (Qureshi)

5. Booster Engines1. CAD selected booster engines (Reesman)

6. Miscellaneous1. Determine materials (Dumas)2. Determine control method – Active or Passive? (Qureshi)3. Determine final booster weight (Dumas - Materials and Reesman -

CAD)

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Task Breakdown4. Satellite Design

1. Flight Requirements1. Compute delta-v required to station keep with the ISS (Sorensen)2. Compute fuel volume required (LaDoucer)3. Determine fuel margin required for disturbances – solar pressure,

atmospheric drag, etc. (Nguyen)4. Produce dimension estimate for booster team (LaDoucer)

2. Technical Drafting 1. Rough CAD of satellite shape (Nguyen)2. CAD hardware components (Sorensen)3. Refine overall satellite shape based on hardware components

(Nguyen)

3. Develop Mass Budget1. Gather specifications for available hardware (LaDoucer)2. Choose final components

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ScheduleID Task Name Comments

1 Set-up and Orientation

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10 Conduct Trade Studies

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24 Work Proposal

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29 Select Preliminary Design Components

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31 Level Zero Sizing, Paper Design

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48 Technical Design, CAD and STK

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65 Materials and Detailed Design

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82 Final and TBD Tasks

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92

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99 Create PDR Slides

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105 Spring Break

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107 Prepare for PDR

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Dan Poniatowski

Dan Poniatowski

F T S W S T M F T S W S T M F T S W S T M F T SDec 30, '07 Jan 13, '08 Jan 27, '08 Feb 10, '08 Feb 24, '08 Mar 9, '08 Mar 23, '08 Apr 6, '08

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ScheduleID Task Name Comments

1 Set-up and Orientation

2 Form Sub-teams

3 Orientation Rearch

4 Meet with Sponsor

5 Aircraft - Mid Level Requirements

6 Booster - Mid Level Requirements

7 Satillite - Mid Level Requirements

8 Draft Schedule

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10 Conduct Trade Studies

11 Fighter Aircraft Trade Study

12 Bomber Aircraft Trade Study

13 Commercial Aircraft Trade Study

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15 Solid Booster Trade Study

16 Liquid Booster Trade Study

17 Hybrid Booster Trade Study

18 Pegasus Trade Study

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20 ISS Trade Study

21 PRISMA Historical Trade Study

22 Heat/Radiation Shielding Trade Study

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24 Work Proposal

25 Draft Proposal

26 Finalize Proposal

27 Proposal

Dan Poniatowski

Dan Poniatowski

Dan Poniatowski

Matt Campbell

Boris Kaganovich

Long Nguyen

Dan Poniatowski

Isaac Landecker

Dan Cipera,Brandon Miller

Matt Campbell

Angela Reesman

Pierre Dumas

Boris Kaganovich

Rizwan Qureshi

Long Nguyen

Cory Sorensen

Jason LaDoucer

Dan Poniatowski

Dan Poniatowski

2/11

S W S T M F T S W S T MJan 13, '08 Jan 27, '08 Feb 10, '08 Feb 24, '08

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ScheduleID Task Name Comments

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29 Select Preliminary Design Components

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31 Level Zero Sizing, Paper Design

32 Aircraft - Attachment Structural Analysis Paper/Text method

33 Aircraft - Maximum Vehicle Metrics Selected Vehicle

34 Aircraft - Prelimiary Release Design Existing Methods?

35 Aircraft - Flight Restrictions Release angle/velocity

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37 Booster - delta v Single Stage Pencil delta v capability

38 Booster - delta v Multi Stage Pencil delta v capability

39 Booster - Determine Pegasus Scale Base on booster

40 Booster - Examine gravity turn trajectory simulationsFind capability - get comfortable

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42 Satillite - Compute delta v requirements Station Keep with ISS

43 Satillite - Compute fuel required Transfer and stay with ISS 30 days

44 Satillite - Research Disturbances, Nav erroratmospheric drag, solar pressure

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46 Meet and Discuss Results Asses Schedule

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48 Technical Design, CAD and STK

49 Aircraft - CAD Attachments Pylon attachment devices

50 Aircraft - CAD Design Space

51 Aircraft - CAD Release Mechanism

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53 Booster - Design Trajectory on STK - Multi Stage

54 Booster - Design Trajectory on STK - Single Stage

55 Booster - CAD Scaled Pegasus

56 Booster - CAD Boosters

57 Booster - Refine Dimensions Dimension nose cone for satillite

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59 Satillite - Refine Dimensions Based on fuel mass/volume

60 Satillite - Determine hardware components PRISMA Example

61 Satillite - Begin CAD of satillite Driven by fuel requirements

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63 Meet and discuss results

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Dan Poniatowski

Brandon Miller

Dan Cipera

Isaac Landecker

Matt Campbell

Pierre Dumas

Rizwan Qureshi

Boris Kaganovich

Angela Reesman

Cory Sorensen

Jason LaDoucer

Long Nguyen

Dan Poniatowski

Brandon Miller

Dan Cipera

Isaac Landecker,Matt Campbell

Rizwan Qureshi,Angela Reesman

Pierre Dumas

Boris Kaganovich

Angela Reesman

Pierre Dumas

Jason LaDoucer

Cory Sorensen

Long Nguyen

Dan Poniatowski

S T M F T S W S T M F T S WJan 27, '08 Feb 10, '08 Feb 24, '08 Mar 9, '08

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ScheduleID Task Name Comments

65 Materials and Detailed Design

66 Aircraft - Determine manuever required for delta v

67 Aircraft - Determine material for attachment Trade Study

68 Aircraft - Determine material for mechanism Trade Study

69 Aircraft - Refine CAD models Attachment and mechanism

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71 Booster - Continue CAD as needed

72 Booster - Determine booster materials

73 Booster - Determine control method Aircraft comm needed?

74 Booster - Task TBD

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76 Satillite - Develop mass budget Use to select hardware components

77 Satillite - CAD hardware components To place in overall model

78 Satillite - Refine overal lCAD model Based on nose cone design space

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80 Meet and Discuss Results

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82 Final and TBD Tasks

83 Aircraft - Finalize CAD models

84 Aircraft - Predict added aircraft weight

85 Aircraft - TBD

86 Aircraft - TBD

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88 Booster - Perform Trajectory Simulations Proficiency from task 35

89 Booster - Predict final booster weight Based on materials chosen

90 Booster - Continue CAD

91 Booster - TBD

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93 Satillite - Choose final components

94 Satillite - Produce master CAD model

95 Satillite - TBD

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97 Meet and Discuss Results

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Dan Cipera

Brandon Miller

Matt Campbell

Isaac Landecker

Angela Reesman

Pierre Dumas

Rizwan Qureshi

Boris Kaganovich

Jason LaDoucer

Cory Sorensen

Long Nguyen

Dan Poniatowski

Isaac Landecker

Matt Campbell

Dan Cipera

Brandon Miller

Rizwan Qureshi

Pierre Dumas,Angela Reesman

Angela Reesman

Boris Kaganovich

Jason LaDoucer

Long Nguyen

Cory Sorensen

Dan Poniatowski

S W S T M F T S W S T MFeb 10, '08 Feb 24, '08 Mar 9, '08 Mar 23, '08

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ScheduleID Task Name Comments

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99 Create PDR Slides

100 Aircraft - Create PDR Slides

101 Booster - Create PDR Slides

102 Satillite - Create PDR Slides

103 Systems - Create PDR Slides

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105 Spring Break

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107 Prepare for PDR

108 Organize PDR Presentation

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110 Freeze PDR Presentation

111 Rehearse PDR Presentation

112 PDR

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123 Final Design Freeze

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125 Create Additional FDR Slides

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131 Prepare for PDR

Matt Campbell

Boris Kaganovich

Long Nguyen

Dan Poniatowski

Dan Poniatowski

Dan Poniatowski

4/3

Dan Poniatowski

4/8

4/21

F T S W S T M F T S W S T M F T SFeb 24, '08 Mar 9, '08 Mar 23, '08 Apr 6, '08 Apr 20, '08 May 4, '08

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Any Questions?