Defense Intelligence Reference Document Space Access Where We ve Been And Where We Could Go

Defense Intelligence Agency · 56 pages · text from the file's own layer

This Defense Intelligence Reference Document, prepared by the Defense Intelligence Agency and dated 8 March 2010, was produced under the Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications (AAWSA) Program. It gives a historical and technical review of how to reach space and return. It covers hypersonic gliders, air-breathing and rocket propulsion, thermodynamics and materials, and launch options. It argues that reliable, schedulable access to low Earth orbit is mainly a hardware and propulsion problem rather than a technology one.

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Contents
Introduction ............................................................................................................v
Propulsion Perspective ........................................................................................... 1
Hypersonic Configuration Concepts ........................................................................ 2
Thermodynamics and Materials ............................................................................ 16
The Qu Tube ......................................................................................................... 23
Rocket Propulsion ................................................................................................ 25
Up-and-Down Operations ..................................................................................... 30
Launch Options .................................................................................................... 33
Atmospheric Variations ........................................................................................ 35
Conclusion ............................................................................................................ 37
Appendix A: Historical Perspective ....................................................................... 43
Appendix B: Aeropropulsion Integrated Vehicle ................................................... 46
Appendix C: TAV Operational Costs ...................................................................... 47
Appendix D: Landing Ellipses for Hypersonic Gliders ............................................ 48
Figures
Figure 1. Hardware Flow ........................................................................................ vi
Figure 2. Impact of Air-Breathing Rocket ................................................................ 1
Figure 3. HSVS Hypersonic Cruise Aircraft Showing True Skin Temperature ........... 3
Figure 4. Hypersonic Rocket-Powered Glider Hypersonic Air-Breathing Cruiser ...... 4
Figure 5. Delta-Lifting Body Designs ....................................................................... 5
Figure 6. Martin Marietta X-24 A & B Research Gliders ............................................ 7
Figure 7. Detailed Design Analyses Show the Weight Trends are as Much a
Function of Configuration Family as Lift-to-Drag Ratio ............................ 9
Figure 8. High-Performance Hypersonic Glide Aircraft .......................................... 10
Figure 9. NASA Langley Wing-Body Configuration WB-004 with Critical Areas for
Wing Bodies Identified ........................................................................... 11
Figure 10. FDL-7C/D and FDL-7MC Lifting-Body Configuration .............................. 12
Figure 11. FDL-7C/D with a DuPont Retractable Inward-Turning Inlet. ................ 12
Figure 12. Comparison of FDL-7C/D and Model 176 .............................................. 13
Figure 13. Sufficient Cross Range (L/D) Means There is No Waiting to Return ..... 14
Figure 14. Hypersonic Glider Characteristics ......................................................... 15
Figure 15. Both Delta Planform Lifting Body (Dynasoar) and Model 176 Offer
Superior Landing Performance ............................................................. 16
Figure 16. McDonnell Aircraft Company Roll-Bonded Titanium Structure .............. 17
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