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Simulation and Analysis of Pull-Up Manoeuvre during In-Air Capturing of a Reusable Launch Vehicle

Singh, Sunayna and Bussler, Leonid and Stappert, Sven and Sippel, Martin and Kucukosman, Yakut Cansev and Buckingham, Sophia (2022) Simulation and Analysis of Pull-Up Manoeuvre during In-Air Capturing of a Reusable Launch Vehicle. In: 9th European Conference For Aeronautics And Space Science, EUCASS 2022. 9th European Conference for Aeronautics and Space Sciences (EUCASS), 2022-06-27 - 2022-07-01, Lille, Frankreich.

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Abstract

The innovative "In-Air-Capturing (IAC)" recovery method involves winged rocket stages being captured mid-air and towed back to the launch site. This patented approach by German Aerospace Center (DLR), shows potential for substantial cost reduction by eliminating the need for an additional propulsion system during descent. A critical operation in IAC involves the Towing Aircraft (TA) and Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) performing a coordinated pull-up, such that the configuration transitions from a descending glide to a powered ascending flight. During this maneouvre, the two vehicles are connected to each other by a rope, allowing the TA to use its propulsion system to tow the RLV and gain altitude. The final goal at the end of this maneouvre is to reach a suitable cruise altitude for the tow-back to the launch site. This paper presents the modelling and simulation of a full-scale RLV and TA performing the Pull-Up Maneouvre of IAC. Important subsystems like aerodynamics, propulsion, guidance and control, as well as external disturbances from the wake of the aircraft are discussed in detail. The RLV and TA are assumed to be connected by a simplified rope, modelled as a rigid link. An analysis is performed to determine the optimal cruise flight conditions for the mated configuration. Trajectory simulations are then performed to identify the challenges and additional requirements for the system. From the simulations, it could be concluded that the configuration could reach the commanded cruise conditions despite external disturbances from the wake. To sum up, the potential improvements and future simulations are discussed.

Item URL in elib:https://elib.dlr.de/187075/
Document Type:Conference or Workshop Item (Speech)
Title:Simulation and Analysis of Pull-Up Manoeuvre during In-Air Capturing of a Reusable Launch Vehicle
Authors:
AuthorsInstitution or Email of AuthorsAuthor's ORCID iDORCID Put Code
Singh, SunaynaUNSPECIFIEDhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9185-0267UNSPECIFIED
Bussler, LeonidUNSPECIFIEDhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0657-4086UNSPECIFIED
Stappert, SvenUNSPECIFIEDhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-8425-2779UNSPECIFIED
Sippel, MartinUNSPECIFIEDhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-7356-7575UNSPECIFIED
Kucukosman, Yakut Cansevvon Karman Institute for Fluid DynamicsUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Buckingham, Sophiavon Karman Institute for Fluid DynamicsUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Date:June 2022
Journal or Publication Title:9th European Conference For Aeronautics And Space Science, EUCASS 2022
Refereed publication:No
Open Access:Yes
Gold Open Access:No
In SCOPUS:No
In ISI Web of Science:No
Status:Published
Keywords:FALCon, In-Air-Capturing, Reusable Launch Vehicle, Vertical Launch Horizontal Landing, Pull-Up Manoeuvre, rope connection, trajectory analysis
Event Title:9th European Conference for Aeronautics and Space Sciences (EUCASS)
Event Location:Lille, Frankreich
Event Type:international Conference
Event Start Date:27 June 2022
Event End Date:1 July 2022
HGF - Research field:Aeronautics, Space and Transport
HGF - Program:Space
HGF - Program Themes:Space Transportation
DLR - Research area:Raumfahrt
DLR - Program:R RP - Space Transportation
DLR - Research theme (Project):R - System Analysis Space Transport (SART) [RP], R - Reusable Space Systems and Propulsion Technology
Location: Bremen
Institutes and Institutions:Institute of Space Systems > Space Launcher Systems Analysis
Deposited By: Callsen, Steffen
Deposited On:27 Jun 2022 12:01
Last Modified:24 Apr 2024 20:48

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