Optimum Design of a Reusable Spacecraft Launch System Using Electromagnetic Energy: An Artificial Intelligence GSO Algorithm

Abstract

Due to its advantages of high acceleration, reusability, environmental protection, safety, energy conservation, and efficiency, electromagnetic energy has been considered as an inevitable choice for future space launch technology. This paper proposes a novel three-level orbital launch approach based on a combination of a traditional two-level orbital launch method and an electromagnetic boost (EMB), in which the traditional two-level orbital launch consists of a turbine-based combined cycle (TBCC) and a reusable rocket (RR). Firstly, a mathematical model of a multi-stage coil electromagnetic boost system is established to develop the proposed three-level EMB-TBCC-RR orbital launch approach, achieving a horizontal take-off–horizontal landing (HTHL) reusable launch. In order to optimize the fuel quality of the energy system, an artificial intelligence algorithm parameters-sensitivity-based adaptive quantum-inspired glowworm swarm optimization (AQGSO)is proposed to improve the performance of the electromagnetic boosting system. Simulation results show that the proposed AQGSO improves the global optimization precision and convergence speed. By using the proposed EMB-TBCC-RR orbital launch system and the optimization approach, the required fuel weight was reduced by about 13 tons for the same launch mission, and the energy efficiency and reusability of the spacecraft was greatly improved. The spacecraft can be launched with more cargo capacity and increased payload. The proposed novel three-level orbital launch approach can help engineers to design and optimize the orbital launch system in the field of electromagnetic energy conversion and management.