Transcript Slide 0

Presents the QuickReach™
for space lift and global strike
“Launch Anywhere . . . Strike Anywhere” ™
The views, opinions, and/or
findings contained in this article are those of the
author and should not be interpreted as
representing the official policies, either expressed
or implied, of the Defense Advanced Research
Projects Agency or the Department of Defense."
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2nd Responsive Space Conference and Workshop ···· April 19-22, 2004 ···· El Segundo, California
QuickReach Will Deliver Responsive,
Affordable Launch
™
FALCON
QuickReach is a two-stage, pressurized liquid fuel missile
that is released from the cargo bay of a C-17 or similar aircraft.
Its shipping crate becomes the launch tube, which also incorporates all launch
controls so that no modifications are needed in the carrier aircraft.
FALCON requirements:
QuickReach delivers:
1,000 lbs to 200 km at 28.5º
>1,000 lbs to 200 km at 28.5º
<$5 million cost
<$5 million cost
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“Launch Anywhere . . . Strike Anywhere” ™
Liquid Fuel Option Was Lowest Risk
FALCON
™
We considered solid, hybrid and liquid propulsion options.
– Solids ruled out due to very high cost of acquisition, limited number of
vendors (captive customer problem) and increased cost of handling
and storage. Low performance led to 50% increase in number of
stages needed to attain orbit or reach targets downrange.
– Hybrids ruled out due to lack of flight maturity, relatively low
performance, higher propellant costs than liquids and technical risk.
• Our team has significant hybrid experience, and has conducted over 500
hybrid tests.
– Liquid propulsion provided opportunity to meet cost goals through
higher performance and reduced stage count. Also eliminated solid
motor environmental impacts and allowed conventional industrial
manufacturing, handling and storage facilities to be used.
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“Launch Anywhere . . . Strike Anywhere” ™
Air-launched ELV Option Is Superior for FALCON
FALCON
™
We considered ground, air and sea-launched options
– Sea launch ruled out due to high infrastructure costs to meet surge requirements
(ships or platforms), ocean environmental impacts and weather limitations.
– Ground launch ruled out due to high range costs, range’s impact on responsiveness,
and lack of stealth when carrying out surge launches from CONUS.
– Air-launch option meets responsiveness goals, eliminates many environmental
impacts, eliminates third-party liability risk, provides covertness and all-azimuth
capability, and meets surge requirements without major infrastructure expenditures.
We considered reusable and expendable options
– The technical risk of an RLV is too great for a near term effort such as FALCON.
– Phase II funding is not likely to be sufficient for an operational RLV development effort.
– An RLV would still likely require some expendable post-boost stage for velocity control
of a separated CAV to provide flight path angle control and separation between the
RLV and the CAV. This is “by definition” expended and has significant unit costs.
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“Launch Anywhere . . . Strike Anywhere” ™
Our Concept of Operations (CONOPS) Will Reflect
Accepted Military and Commercial Practices
™
FALCON
In operation, missile and canister are handled as an
empty, lightweight conventional payload for cargo
aircraft.
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Cargo aircraft is not modified.
On alert, launch tube manages propellant thermal environment.
In transit, launch tube canister is shipping container.
Launch is covert, occurring over the horizon at sea.
System is mobile and survivable.
System uses existing military infrastructure.
– Air bases, current Air Mobility Command maintenance and logistics systems,
plus flight crews and training are all applicable without significant modification
or impacts on current operations.
System uses existing commercial infrastructure.
– Transport via highways or rail, and standard flat bed tractor trailers may be
used.
– Commercial tankers used.
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“Launch Anywhere . . . Strike Anywhere” ™
QuickReach Launch Scenario
FALCON
™
Launch
T=0 sec
Alt = 25,000 ft
Velr = 330 fps
Range = 0 NM
Optional In-flight Refueling
Staging
T = 110 sec
Alt = 161,000 ft
Velr = 7,765 fps
Orbit Insertion
T=366 sec
Alt = 608,000 ft
Veli = 25,580 fps
Range = 620 NM
Ground Hold
Takeoff within 120 minutes of call-up
1st Stage Impact
T = 390 sec
Range = 350 NM
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“Launch Anywhere . . . Strike Anywhere” ™
Advantages of AirLaunch Approach
FALCON
™
Lower Costs & Higher Performance for SLV-OS
– Minimal range costs, which can be $500K to $4 million per flight
– No range restrictions on launch azimuth caused by nearby population
centers
– Minimal infrastructure cost for surge launches; use temporarily
assigned cargo aircraft
– Covertness achieved by flying over the horizon before release
– Increased performance from lower drag and altitude start yields 10-25%
lower cost per lb
Simplicity of Design
– No pumps (consequence of altitude start with low Pc engines)
– No secondary gas pressurization system; fuel is self-pressurizing
– Single engines for each stage, no manifolding or plumbing issues
– Simplicity leads to higher reliability and lower operational costs;
components and systems that don’t exist can’t fail
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“Launch Anywhere . . . Strike Anywhere” ™
AirLaunch LLC Was Founded Specifically
To Address the FALCON Program
FALCON
™

is a consortium of
expert contractors.
–
Each selected to deliver specific skills
needed to meet the FALCON goals.
 AirLaunch principals have extensive
experience in system engineering,
conceptual design, propulsion and
program management.
–
Gary C Hudson, 54 (CEO, Program Manager).
Thirty-four years in space business,
CEO/President of six companies, AW&ST
Laurel for DC-X (1994), raised $35+ million for
space ventures. Managed 150 staff and
contractors at most recent venture.
–
Bevin McKinney, 54 (Chief Designer, FALCON
Chief Engineer). Twenty-three years
experience. Founder of AMROC and
responsible for 500+ engine firings, SET-1
vehicle development at WTR, and first
privately-developed commercial launch vehicle
(Dolphin 1983).
Bevin
McKinney
Gary
Hudson
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“Launch Anywhere . . . Strike Anywhere” ™
Team Airlaunch Delivers “Big Prime” Capabilities
Through a Consortium of Leading Specialists
™
INTEGRATION &
LAUNCH OPERATIONS
Space Vector Corporation, Chatsworth CA
Subsidiary of Pemco Aviation Group, Birmingham AL
Missile Integration
Ground & Airborne Support Equipment
Telemetry & Flight Termination
Payload/CAV Systems
Launch Operations
AirLaunch LLC
FALCON
PROPULSION
SYSTEM
Program Management
Wilson Composite
Technologies, Folsom CA
Concept Design
Tank Design &
Development (Stage 1/2)
Systems Engineering
Propulsion System Overall
Design & Integration
Commercial & Gov’t Sales
Universal Space Lines LLC
Denver & Newport Beach CA
Schafer Corporation
Los Angeles CA &
Chelmsford
Massachusetts
Phase I Engine Concepts
Guidance, Navigation & Control
Flight Computer & INS
Mission Planning (IDOS)
Operations Support
Orion Propulsion, Huntsville
Alabama
FALCON
Coleman Aerospace
Boca Raton Florida
Engine Test
(Phase I)
Airborne Launch Control Equipment
Launch Console
Operations Support
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“Launch Anywhere . . . Strike Anywhere” ™
Summary of AirLaunch Approach
FALCON
™
Air Launch Delivers Low Costs, High Performance
– Minimal or no range costs or range restrictions on launch azimuth
– Uses existing aircraft without modifications
– Covert salvo launches by flying over the horizon before release
– More than the FALCON payload goal for less than the price target
– Modest development cost to scale up to 4,000 – 10,000 lbs to LEO
– Technology applicable to future heavy lift ground launched vehicles
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“Launch Anywhere . . . Strike Anywhere” ™
AirLaunch Contact Information
FALCON
™
Program Manager: Gary Hudson, 415-307-7335,
[email protected]
Chief Engineer: Bevin McKinney, 253-851-0218,
[email protected]
Chief Marketer: David Gump, 703-623-9616,
[email protected]
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“Launch Anywhere . . . Strike Anywhere” ™