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The design and evolution of the beta two-stage-to-orbit horizontal takeoff and landing launch system
| Content Provider | NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS) |
|---|---|
| Author | Norris, Rick B. Burkardt, Leo A. |
| Copyright Year | 1992 |
| Description | The Beta launch system was originally conceived in 1986 as a horizontal takeoff and landing, fully reusable, two-stage-to-orbit, manned launch vehicle to replace the Shuttle. It was to be capable of delivering a 50,000 lb. payload to low polar orbit. The booster propulsion system consisted of JP fueled turbojets and LH fueled ramjets mounted in pods in an over/under arrangement, and a single LOX/LH fueled SSME rocket. The second stage orbiter, which staged at Mach 8, was powered by an SSME rocket. A major goal was to develop a vehicle design consistent with near term technology. The vehicle design was completed with a GLOW of approximately 2,000,000 lbs. All design goals were met. Since then, interest has shifted to the 10,000 lbs. to low polar orbit payload class. The original Beta was down-sized to meet this payload class. The GLOW of the down-sized vehicle was approximately 1,000,000 lbs. The booster was converted to exclusively air-breathing operation. Because the booster depends on conventional air-breathing propulsion only, the staging Mach number was reduced to 5.5. The orbiter remains an SSME rocket-powered stage. |
| File Size | 930174 |
| Page Count | 20 |
| File Format | |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | http://archive.org/details/NASA_NTRS_Archive_19930017829 |
| Archival Resource Key | ark:/13960/t6935rd4k |
| Language | English |
| Publisher Date | 1992-12-01 |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Subject Keyword | Launch Vehicles And Space Vehicles Ramjet Engines Air Launching Propulsion System Performance Space Shuttle Main Engine Air Breathing Engines Multistage Rocket Vehicles Landing Aids Hydrogen Oxygen Engines Horizontal Spacecraft Landing Spacecraft Launching Reusable Launch Vehicles Hypersonic Vehicles Ntrs Nasa Technical Reports Server (ntrs) Nasa Technical Reports Server Aerodynamics Aircraft Aerospace Engineering Aerospace Aeronautic Space Science |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Article |
