| 摘要 |
Orbital launch vehicles equipped with aerodynamic lifting surfaces enabling them to be towed as gliders behind conventional aircraft, and the method of towing these launch vehicles using a flexible cable to connect them with a conventional aircraft, for placing spacecraft into low earth orbit at greatly reduced cost compared to current orbital launch systems. The lift from the aerodynamic surfaces enables the launch vehicles to be towed by means of a flexible cable from a conventional runway using existing aircraft. As with "conventional air-launch," this permits spacecraft launch into orbit to originate from any conventional runway consistent with constraints of public safety, thus eliminating the need to build dedicated launch pads at geographic locations from which a full range of orbital inclinations can be reached. The method of towing the launch vehicle, utilizing the lift of its wings to fully offset its weight, permits at least an order of magnitude increase in the weight of vehicle which can be launched compared to "conventional air-launch" methods whereby the launch vehicle is carried on or within a conventional aircraft. This in turn enables an order of magnitude increase in the weight of spacecraft which can benefit from the inherent flexibility and low cost of "air-launch." The tow launch method also requires fewer and simpler modifications to a conventional aircraft than do any other current or proposed air-launch methods. |
