This proposal addresses AF02-050 'Small Launch Vehicle Technology'. A need exists for a Small Launch Vehicle (SLV) for deployment of tactical and commercial satellites singly or in satellite constellations and architectures. The SLV must be highly responsive in providing for rapid deployments of these payloads at greatly reduced launch costs. Increased reliability, reusability, and operations efficiency can fulfill these requirements. The objective of this proposal is the conceptual design of the smallest suborbital, reusable, rocket-powered booster demonstrator that provides configuration and technology traceability to and risk mitigation for a future SLV. The primary propulsion will be a Reusable Propulsion Module (RPM) powered by engines now completing development. The booster will provide a laboratory for tests of new launch vehicle technologies and operational approaches and demonstrate improvements in reliability through inspection and reuse. To this end, it is proposed to determine the most critical technologies for the SLV to be tested by the demonstrator and to provide for a mitigation plan for retiring any associated risks during Phase II and Phase III activities. The development and flight test of such a demonstrator will provide a high level of confidence of achieving cost, reliability and response goals for the later, operational SLV.
Benefits: Demonstration of the technologies and operational approaches studied in Phase I research and as products of the full SBIR process will be applicable to a broad range of future launch vehicles. By demonstrating launch cost reductions, increased reliability, and rapid response capabilities, the subscale flight demonstrator will provide important calibration and validation information for cost and operations models. This research will also reduce the risk in high payoff technologies that have the greatest impacts on the cost, reliability, and response goals for an Small Launch Vehicle. Commercialization of these technologies will have a high payoff for companies that utilize them in both existing and future launch vehicles for USAF Space Control, NASA ISS Servicing, and various commercial space launch missions in the one to two metric ton class. Other potential applications include the acceleration of sounding rockets, target systems, and scramjet vehicles to high velocity. This Phase I research builds upon over six years of privately supported work on the StarBooster architecture approach. Starcraft Boosters, Inc. will seek to partner in Phase II and Phase III with several major aerospace commercial companies to move forward with this demonstration and commercialization effort.
Keywords: reusable, space, booster, demonstrator, concept, operations, technology, definition
