Most effective areas for launch vehicles with combustible polyethylene tanks

1Yemets, VV
1V.N. Karazin National University of Kharkiv, Kharkiv, Ukraine
Kosm. nauka tehnol. 2008, 14 ;(1):17-24
https://doi.org/10.15407/knit2008.01.017
Publication Language: Ukrainian
Abstract: 
We present the analysis of modern and advanced ways of space transportation cost decreasing. The fact that using polyethylene tank shell as fuel is one of effective ways with unique abilities are demonstrated and supported by means of economical calculations. Particular features of the combustible launch vehicle (CLV) are its ability to be realized as a single-stage LV and the absence of conventional tankage structures. It allows us to develop the reusable CLV equipped with the inexpensive single descent module with recovering the engine and control devices. The CLV-technology is especially favourable for launching microsatellites by means of advanced small launch vehicles because the mass of the combustible polyethylene tank shell does not depend on the LV scale and always equals the mass of fuel only. The advantages of the CLV are illustrated through the comparison of the specific cost and cargo mass of different modern and advanced, expandable and reusable LVs. The procedure and formulas for the comparison are presented.
Keywords: combustible launch vehicle, polyethylene tank, single-stage
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