Perspectives for RLV Related Technologies

Abstract

Within this paper a long term vision for possible space vehicles and launcher systems with full or partial re-usability will be given. In the past decades since the development of the Space Shuttle launch systems a lot of development work was focused on the technology for future reusable launch vehicles. Most important key technologies are the thermal protection system, tanks and propulsion. However, independent from near term decisions for a next generation launcher and the proposed launcher systems for the exploration in the US, the need for re-useable technologies seems to be definitely present. Having a look on growing activities and visions within the field of private launch vehicles, space tourism, hypersonic transport and perspectives in human space flight, current technologies are essential corner stones to realize such scenarios. Especially new visions of commercial transport systems like the Space Liner concept or space tourism are only possible with a high launch sequence and seem to be only possible in using mainly re-usable systems or sub-components. The lessons learnt from recent studies or realized launcher systems showed, that the idea of a universal launcher for all applications was not an optimal approach. More flexible systems, adaptable to the required mission and also included re-usable parts may be a solution. Considering the current state of the art of RLV related technologies and presenting some ongoing or possible applications, this paper will try to indicate possible future development directions. Based on the SHEFEX flight experiment program a way of technology development and flight test will be presented, which covers a wide range of disciplines and different technological areas, starting from aerodynamics, thermal protection systems, flight control, measurement techniques and at the end flight operations. All these technologies are applicable and needed for different concepts and vehicles, either a RLV, or semi reusable launchers, or valuable pay loads to be returned to earth or finally hypersonic flight vehicles.