A comparison of horizontal and vertical launch modes for earth-to-orbit NASP-Technology Enabled Vehicles

This paper presents a comparison between horizontal and vertical launch modes for NASP-Technology Enabled Vehicles (NTEVs) for earth-to-orbit transportation systems. Several NTEV concepts are used to provide data for both rocket and air-breathing powered vehicles. Factors considered include the energy to achieve orbit, vehicle weight and size, propulsion, inert weight, and launch operations. Both qualitative and quantitative measures are used to compare horizontal and vertical launch modes. While the results of this comparison indicate a preference for horizontal launch, it is evident that vertical launch could be preferred by changing decision factors, using nonuniform decision factor weighting, or introducing other design concepts.