Documentation of the DLR Design Activities Concerning the Liquid Fly Back Booster Concepts ASSC-2 V

Abstract

This technical report gives a complete overview of the results of a preliminary systems analysis of four Liquid Fly-Back Boosters (LFBB) of different size, investigated in the ASTRA study in the period July 2000 to June 2001. The focus of the presented results is on the DLR-SART work. The regarded partially reusable space transportation system consists of dual LFBB stages, which are attached to the expendable Ariane 5 core stage at an upgraded future technology level. The description deals with propulsion, aerodynamics, trajectory analysis and optimization to GTO and LEO, descent and fly-back simulation, sensitivity analyses, and a specific launch cost estimation based on commercial market projections. The most important and most critical aspects are discussed, and final recommendations for the continuation of work are provided.