Study on future European winged reusable launchers

Abstract

The realization of reusability for launch vehicles is expected to lower launch costs, subsequently enabling a thriving space industry. Therefore, several high-performance semi-reusable launch vehicle concepts are designed and investigated based on the premise of potential implementation into the Ariane program by using stage and engine parts from future Ariane 6 hardware. These vehicles are imagined as a combination of a winged reusable booster and one to two expendable upper stages for injection into a geostationary transfer orbit (GTO). First stage reusability is achieved by the "In Air Capturing" method proposed by DLR which is currently studied in the H2020 project FALCon. A payload mass of approximately 14 tons into GTO is pursued, consequently surpassing the anticipated payload mass of the Ariane 64. This paper presents the current technical status of the different investigated RLV configurations including geometrical shape, layout, propellant system, propulsion, aerodynamics and structural layout. Additionally, the designs shall be critically analysed regarding their suitability and applicability for a potential implementation into the European launcher roadmap.