Air Launch Testbed for Endoatmospheric Hypersonic Trajectories

ABSTRACT:This SBIR proposal covers the preliminary design and initial hardware and software in-the-loop testing of the GOLauncher 1, a single stage liquid air launched rocket system, for utilization in future hypersonic flight testing efforts. Major objectives include completing prelimianry design of the system based on requirements defined during Phase I, further validation of cost and schedule estimates, continued risk management, and reduction of major risks identified during Phase I.BENEFIT:Reduction in flight test cost and schedule for small payloads vs. heritage multi-stage sounding rocket booster systems. The stakeholder survey compeleted during Phase I has established commercial applications for hypersonic flight testing, high altitude and microgravity research, and evolution to nanosatellite launch vehicles. Primary military application of the GOLauncher 1 is low-cost flight testing of small payloads, primarily vehicle subsystems and scaled air breathing propulsion systems, in support of current and future AFRL, DARPA, and MDA hypersonics programs.