Welcome to the world of SpaceLiner, which, when fully developed, could have dramatic impact in global aerospace.
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The DLR Institute of Space Systems said this suborbital, hypersonic, winged passenger transport idea is under investigation at DLR-SART. DLR is a German aerospace research agency and it evaluates complex systems of space flight. SART is Space Launcher Systems Analysis, Tech Explore reports.
SpaceLiner is a rocket-propelled intercontinental passenger transport, described by the institute as a two-stage vehicle powered by rocket propulsion.
Guy Norris, Los Angeles-based senior editor for Aviation Week, described it as a rocket-powered system that incorporates a flyback booster and other dual-use technologies which could also be applied to "architectures for launching payloads into low Earth orbit."
Conceived as a winged airliner carrying 50 passengers from Europe to Australia in 90 minutes, Norris added that, to serve a potentially larger market, DLR has also outlined a 100-seat version that would be capable of one-hour intercontinental and transpacific missions.
The concept being laid out in detail sounds like a business feasibility study as much as a technical initiative. The backdrop for all this lies in the cost factor in space transportation.
This has been a key challenge. Production is one of the main cost drivers due to the very low manufacturing numbers of stages and engines. If the number of launches per year were to be increased, manufacturing and operating cost of launcher hardware would shrink. Without a new market application for space technology no improvement is to be expected, said the Institute. What could ignite a larger market?
"A new kind of high-speed transport based on a two-stage Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) has been proposed by DLR under the name SpaceLiner," they stated.
Liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen will be used as propellants. They said the combination was both powerful and eco-friendly."
The reusable vehicle would be accelerated by 11 liquid rocket engines—nine for the booster and two for the passenger stage, operated using the cryogenic liquid oxygen and hydrogen. ■