Reusable Booster Technology for Small Launch Vehicles

"This proposal addresses AF02-050 ?Small Launch Vehicle Technology?.A need exists for a Small Launch Vehicle (SLV) for deployment of tactical and commercial satellites singly or in satellite constellations and architectures. The SLV must be highly responsive in providing for rapid deployments of these payloads at greatlyreduced launch costs. Increased reliability, reusability, and operations efficiency can fulfill these requirements. The objective of this proposal is the conceptual design of the smallest suborbital, reusable, rocket-powered booster demonstrator thatprovides configuration and technology traceability to and risk mitigation for a future SLV. The primary propulsion will be a Reusable Propulsion Module (RPM) powered by engines now completing development. The booster will provide a laboratory for tests ofnew launch vehicle technologies and operational approaches and demonstrate improvements in reliability through inspection and reuse. To this end, it is proposed to determine the most critical technologies for the SLV to be tested by the demonstrator andto provide for a mitigation plan for retiring any associated risks during Phase II and Phase III activities. The development and flight test of such a demonstrator will provide a high level of confidence of achieving cost, reliability and response goalsfor the later, operational SLV. Demonstration of the technologies and operational approaches studied in Phase I research