Research on TBCC-RR Reusable Vehicle Launch System Based on Electromagnetic Propulsion

The traditional non-reusable launch vehicle is the main approach to complete space launch mission. But the traditional rocket is inefficient and uneconomical, the more economical space launch approach has been studied in recent years. Two-Stage-To-Orbit(TSTO) reusable launch configuration which is combined Turbine Based Combined Cycle (TBCC) with reusable rocket (RR) is one of the main trends of current research. Based on TBCC-RR approach, a new design was proposed to improve the carrying capacity. In this design, the electromagnetic propulsion system (EMPS) was applied to increase the initial speed as the first stage engine, leaving the TBCC-RR to take care of the rest launch job. The overall concept of To-Orbit system was constructed and the electromagnetic launch system model was established. Then the mathematic model of EMPS-TBCC-RR-To-Orbit system is simulated and calculated. The result shows that EMPS is capable of accelerating the vehicle, which weighs hundreds of tons, up to one hundred meters per second, using EMPS can reduce the takeoff weight of the spacecraft and significantly enhance the carrying capacity of the spacecraft. Therefore, it is foreseeable that EMPS has a certain potential in the future space launch mission. (paper)