Weight Analysis of Two-Stage-To-Orbit Reusable Launch Vehicles for Military Applications

In response to Department of Defense (DoD) requirements for responsive and low-cost space access, this design study provides an objective empty weight analysis of potential reusable launch vehicle (RLV) configurations. Each two-stage-to-orbit (TSTO) RLV has a fixed payload requirement of 20,000 lbf to low Earth orbit. The propulsion systems considered in this study include pure rocket, pure turbine, rocket-based-combined-cycle (RBCC), and turbine-based-combined-cycle (TBCC). The hydrocarbon dual-mode scramjet (DMSJ) engines used in the RBCC and TBCC propulsion systems represent possible applications of the current research being performed in the U.S. Air Force HyTech program. Two sensitivity analyses were then performed on areas of interest directly affecting the propulsion systems in this study, including the effects of orbiter fuel selection, as well as the effects of increasing the turbine installed thrust to weight ratios for the RLVs utilizing afterburning turbine engines. The vertical-takeoff-horizontal-landing (VTHL) RLVs have an empty weight advantage over the horizontal-takeoff-horizontal-landing (HTHL) RLVs. The orbiter propellant switch has either negligible or no empty weight savings for the VTHL RLVs, while it leads to substantial empty weight savings for the HTHL RLVs. For the HTHL RLVs, increasing the turbine installed thrust to weight ratio causes a significant decrease in empty weight.