Daniele DI MARTINO, Elisa DI PAOLA, Vincenzo ALLEGRA, Emanuele RUA, Abdul R., Phanindra PERI, Antonella INGENITO, Luana Georgiana STOICA, Alessandro DI MARCO

DOI Number: 10.60853/wadv-4298

Conference number: HiSST-2024-00190

The increasing demand for access to space, driven by both governmental and private entities, requires a fundamental shift towards more cost-effective and efficient means of launching payloads. Currently, the launch market is predominantly dominated by staged expendable launch vehicles, characterized by excessive costs per kilogram of payload. In this context, the Gun Launch to Orbit (GLTO) concept emerges as a promising alternative, offering simplicity, reusability, and the potential for significantly
increased payload fractions. However, it also meets substantial challenges, including the need to withstand high g-loads and intense heating during hypersonic trans-atmospheric flight. This paper aims to explore the feasibility of utilizing the ram accelerator, particularly the thermally-choked ram accelerator (TCRA), to launch medium-small satellites. The investigation delves into the performance characteristics of TCRA, examining its response to variations in fuel composition, pressure, temperature, barrel length, and combustion heat release. Moreover, the paper extends its study to the optimization of dynamic intake geometries within hypersonic orbital launchers. This aspect of the research aims to
enhance fuel combustion efficiency by ensuring that the selected fuel enters the combustion chamber with the requisite properties. By employing sophisticated modelling techniques and computational simulations, the study explores various intake geometries and their impact on fuel characteristics, thus paving the way for enhanced performance and reliability in micro-satellite launches. In conclusion, this extended abstract encapsulates a multifaceted exploration of GLTO technology and its potential applications in launching small satellites. By addressing critical challenges and proposing innovative solutions, this research contributes to the ongoing quest for cost-effective and sustainable access to
space, fostering new opportunities for exploration, scientific discovery, and commercial ventures beyond Earth’s atmosphere.

Read the full paper here

In Categories: 1.Events, High-Speed Missions and Vehicles, HiSST 2024
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