blackshire
04-07-2012, 10:13 PM
Hello All,
Here is a Russian air-launched satellite launch vehicle design, the Polyot SLV (see: www.airlaunch.ru ), which was designed by ALAC (Air Launch Aerospace Corporation). The liquid propellant (LOX/kerosene) Polyot SLV is designed to be launched from an Antonov An-124 Ruslan cargo jet in an unusual way. The launch sequence calls for the An-124 to pull up into a moderate climb, then eject the Polyot SLV *nose-first* out the aircraft's rear cargo door. After falling Earthward for several seconds, the vehicle's NK-43M first stage engine ignites at T+9.7 seconds, then gimbals upward to begin to pitch the vehicle toward level and then climbing flight, finally reaching the desired ascent elevation at T+15.2 seconds. Also:
Norbert Brügge's encyclopedic "Space Launch Vehicles" web site (which is a most useful resource for scale data on missiles and SLVs, see: www.b14643.de/Spacerockets_1/index.htm ) has information on, and illustrations of, several competing Russian designs for the air-launched SLV mission (see: www.b14643.de/Spacerockets_1/East_Europe_3/Polyot/Description/Frame.htm ), which were proposed by RKK Energiya, SRC Makeev, and TsSKB Progress. Although the Air Launch Aerospace Corporation's web site does not appear to have been updated since 2004, elsewhere online I have found more recent articles about the company's joint work with Indonesia's space agency (LAPAN) to launch their Polyot SLV from a new spaceport on the Indonesian island of Biak. ALAC is also listed in a 2011 aerospace company directory (see: http://www.aviamarket.org/a/604-air-launch-aerospace-corporation.html ), so they are still in business, if at a low level of activity.
I hope this information will be helpful.
Here is a Russian air-launched satellite launch vehicle design, the Polyot SLV (see: www.airlaunch.ru ), which was designed by ALAC (Air Launch Aerospace Corporation). The liquid propellant (LOX/kerosene) Polyot SLV is designed to be launched from an Antonov An-124 Ruslan cargo jet in an unusual way. The launch sequence calls for the An-124 to pull up into a moderate climb, then eject the Polyot SLV *nose-first* out the aircraft's rear cargo door. After falling Earthward for several seconds, the vehicle's NK-43M first stage engine ignites at T+9.7 seconds, then gimbals upward to begin to pitch the vehicle toward level and then climbing flight, finally reaching the desired ascent elevation at T+15.2 seconds. Also:
Norbert Brügge's encyclopedic "Space Launch Vehicles" web site (which is a most useful resource for scale data on missiles and SLVs, see: www.b14643.de/Spacerockets_1/index.htm ) has information on, and illustrations of, several competing Russian designs for the air-launched SLV mission (see: www.b14643.de/Spacerockets_1/East_Europe_3/Polyot/Description/Frame.htm ), which were proposed by RKK Energiya, SRC Makeev, and TsSKB Progress. Although the Air Launch Aerospace Corporation's web site does not appear to have been updated since 2004, elsewhere online I have found more recent articles about the company's joint work with Indonesia's space agency (LAPAN) to launch their Polyot SLV from a new spaceport on the Indonesian island of Biak. ALAC is also listed in a 2011 aerospace company directory (see: http://www.aviamarket.org/a/604-air-launch-aerospace-corporation.html ), so they are still in business, if at a low level of activity.
I hope this information will be helpful.