SpaceLiner

Spaceliner is a concept for a suborbital, hyper supersonic winged passenger vans, which is under investigation since 2005 by the German Aerospace Center (DLR ).

Concept

The two-stage, vertical takeoff configuration of unmanned boosters and manned passenger stage ( Orbiter ) is designed for 50 passengers and has a total of eleven liquid rocket engines ( Booster 9, Orbiter 2 ), which are operated with cryogenic oxygen (LOX ) and hydrogen ( LH2). After burnout of the engines the Orbiterstufe can travel great distances in a very short time intercontinental glide. Depending on the mission altitudes of 80 km and Mach numbers above 20 can thereby be achieved. Flight times will be with the Space liner on the Australia - Europe route just 90 minutes or on the route Europe - California no longer than 60 minutes. With occurring accelerations of up to 2.5 g of the burden on passengers still remain in these emissions below those of the Space Shuttle astronauts. Moreover, the concept provides for the execution of the passenger cabin as a separate rescue capsule, which can be separated from the vehicle in an emergency and will enable passengers a safe return to Earth.

The commissioning of the first operational system is possible by DLR data 2040-2050. Core aspect of the approach is the full re-usability in conjunction with a comparable series of aviation production, through which an increased cost compared to current space transportation systems is expected. A key challenge is to improve the safety and reliability of aerospace components such as rocket engines, so that they come for daily use in passenger transport in question.

At present, the development of the concept is financed by DLR - internal means and within the framework of the EU-funded FP7 projects as FAST20XX and CHATT. In addition to the DLR various partners from the European aeronautics and space sector.

Previous development

Currently there is the Spaceliner in the preliminary draft stage. Based on the results of each previous investigations, the design is driven in the course of development and growing consideration of subsystem development and integration. In parallel, studies are carried out in relation to variants with altered requirements and specifications, the results can also be incorporated into the entire design process.

Spaceliner 2 refers to the first version, in which the integration of an active cooling system for thermally highly stressed components has been provided during atmospheric reentry.

The version Spaceliner 4 is a further development of the Space Liner 2 with improved aerodynamic and flight mechanical characteristics. In the EU-funded research project FAST20XX various necessary for the Spaceliner technologies have been investigated experimentally and numerically in detail with reference to this configuration.

The Spaceliner 7 is the current configuration, which is currently in test at DLR. As part of a numerical optimization of the aerodynamic, thermal and structural-mechanical properties in hypersonic flight has been replaced including the double - delta wing with a simple delta wing to improve. Currently subsystems such as the passenger cabin, the cryogenic tanks, the propellant feed system and the heat shield will be designed and integrated.

Currently also a 100 - passenger version of the liner space 7 for a short distance under the designation SL7 -100 is investigated. Possible itineraries are classified with respect to the distance to be bridged, Class 1 is the largest and Class 3 the least, economically or interesting Distance describes. To fulfill the missions to come, depending on the required reach a long or a short version of the booster stage is used, each with 50 - is combined and 100 - passenger version of the orbiter.

Specifications

Drives

The Spaceliner concept is to use a single type of reusable liquid rocket engine, which works in the main stream cycle with complete pre-combustion. The expansion ratio of the nozzles is adapted to the different emissions of boosters and the orbiter. As fuel the high-energy and environmentally friendly combination of liquid hydrogen is provided with liquid oxygen.