Responsive Space Assets for Polish Armed Forces
PDF

Keywords

air-assisted rocket launch system
defense
safety
satellite
space

How to Cite

Walkowiak, M., Kiszkowiak, Łukasz, Olejnik, A., Rogólski, R., & Zalewski, P. (2022). Responsive Space Assets for Polish Armed Forces. Safety & Defense, 8(1), 30-40. https://doi.org/10.37105/sd.171

Abstract

This study proposes an alternative (i.e., air-assisted) system for launching payloads (micro-satellites) into space using rockets fired from Su-22 or MiG-29 combat aircraft. This paper verifies and evaluates such an air-assisted rocket system used for launching payloads to low Earth orbit (LEO) in many aspects. Mission profile and rocket drop maneuver concepts have been developed. From the adopted model of calculations and simulation results, it follows that in the considered configuration, the aforementioned aircraft will be capable of accomplishing a mission in which a payload of at least 10 kg is launched into low Earth orbit. The analyses were complemented by simulations and wind tunnel tests verifying the impact that space rockets may exert on the aerodynamic and mechanical properties of the carrier aircraft. Results of numerical simulations and wind tunnel tests to which models of the air-assisted rocket launching system were subjected indicate the rocket's impact on the aerodynamic characteristics of the aircraft and its in-flight properties is negligible. Similarly, load and strength tests to which the airframe’s load-bearing structures have been subjected also failed to show any significant changes or deformations caused by the space rockets attached. The kits proposed may be deemed as the so-called Responsive Space Assets for the Polish Armed Forces. Implementation of such a system not only offers independence from countries or commercial companies providing space services but also allows us to master new capabilities in the context of deploying satellite systems for safety and defense purposes.

https://doi.org/10.37105/sd.171
PDF

References

Bartolotta, P. A., Wilhite, A. W., Schaffer, M., Voland, R. T., & Huebner, L. (2011). Horizontal Launch: Versatile Concept for Assured Space Access. NASA, SP 2011-215994. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20120000791

Chen, T., Ferguson P. W., Deamer, D. A., & Hensley, J. (2006). Responsive Air Lunch F-15 Global Strike Eagle. AIAA - Proceedings of 4th Responsive Space Conference (pp. 1–8). AIAA RS4-2006-2001.

Clarke, J. P., Cerven, K., March, J., Olszewski, M., Wheaton, B., Williams, M., Yu, J., Selig, M., Loth, E., & Burton, R. (2007). Conceptual Design of a Supersonic Air-launch System. Proceedings of 43rd AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference & Exhibit. AIAA 2007-5841.

DARPA. (2011). Report on Horizontal Launch Study. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20110015353

Dowództwo Wojsk Lotniczych i Obrony Powietrznej. (1992). Samoloty MiG-29 i MiG-29UB z silnikami RD-33: Obliczanie zasięgu i długotrwałości lotu. Poznań.

Garcia-Cuadrado, G. (2017). Nanosatellites ‒ The Tool for a New Economy of Space: Opening Space Frontiers to a Wider Audience. Journal of Aeronautics & Aerospace, 6(2), 1000192. https://doi.org/10.4172/2168-9792.1000192

Kesteren, M. W. (2013). Air Launch versus Ground Launch: a Multidisciplinary Design Optimization Study of Expendable Launch Vehicles on Cost and Performance. [Master thesis, Delft University of Technology, Netherlands]. https://repository.tudelft.nl/islandora/object/uuid%3A16093448-e5bf-4ee7-a895-67168fc9e2c2

Liang, S., Li, X., & Wang, J. (2012). Advanced Remote Sensing: Terrestrial Information Extraction and Applications. Academic Press.

Lopata, J., & Rutan, B. (2004). Rascal: A Demonstration of Operationally Responsive Space Launch. AIAA-Proceedings of 2nd Responsive Space Conference (pp. 1–8). RS2-2004-8004.

Mitchell, P. T. (2009). Network Centric Warfare and Coalition Operations: The New Military Operating System. Routledge Taylor & Francis Group.

Niederstrasser, C. (2018). Small Launch Vehicles: A 2018 State of the Industry Survey. Proceedings of 32nd Annual AIAA/USU Conference on Small Satellites (pp. 1–11). SSC18-IX-01

Orbital ATK. (2015). Pegasus User’s Guide (Release 8.0). https://www.orbitalatk.com/flight-systems/space-launch-vehicles/pegasus/docs/Pegasus_UsersGuide.pdf

Perry, B., & Fuller, J. (2020). Enabling Resilient Space-Based Data, Products, and Services for NATO. Joint Air & Space Power Conference 2021, Delivering NATO Air & Space Power at the Speed of Relevance, (pp. 245–255). https://www.japcc.org/leveraging-responsive-space-and-rapid-reconstitution/

Smolyakov, A. V., Yanakaev, V. A., Kornev, A. V., & Shevko, S. V. (2018). “MARKS” Small Aviation-Rocket Space Launch System. Journal of Engineering Science and Technology, 13(5), 1143–1152. https://jestec.taylors.edu.my/Vol%2013%20issue%205%20May%202018/13_5_1.pdf

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.