Recovery and reuse of a rocket launcher
Abstract
A typical launch cost of an Ariane 5 is 150 million dollars. This is inacceptable if the utilization of space is to be embarked upon to any great extent. The feasibility and economics of making the Ariane 5 expendable launcher reusable is investigated. Ballistic and winged recovery were considered and it was found that, with the cost models provided, the latter option gave a substantial increase in the incurred costs. However ballistic recovery from the sea would mean a saving of 1.6 pct. on the launch costs. This result is encouraging, but it is felt that any setback within the recovery program would considerably overshadow this figure. It is therefore concluded that the launch cost can be reduced by 2.4 million dollars by using parachute recoverable solid rocket boosters, cryogenic first stage and vehicle equipment bay-L5 composite. Unfortunately the reliability of reuse was not touched upon and hence recovery could prove costly with respect to pure expendibility. A third year project looking into this aspect of reuse is therefore recommended.
- Publication:
-
B.S. Thesis Bristol Univ. (England). Dept. of Aerospace Engineering
- Pub Date:
- June 1990
- Bibcode:
- 1990bue..reptQ....S
- Keywords:
-
- Economic Analysis;
- Parachutes;
- Recoverable Launch Vehicles;
- Reusable Launch Vehicles;
- Rocket Launchers;
- Space Shuttle Boosters;
- Ariane Launch Vehicle;
- Cost Analysis;
- Models;
- Launch Vehicles and Space Vehicles