1. INTAKE ERAM =05500 MD = 02000 AD = 2JQ606m2 PSDO = 37.22kPn TSDO = 249J01K
2. The subsonic TSTO presented in the next pages is a large special design subsonic carrier (based mainly on available elements from existing carriers) with an expendable 2ndstage in a ventral configuration. This solution would be recommended after the proof-of-the-concept performed by converting an existing jumbo-jet at reasonable costs(ref. 3). The next to come development of very powerful turbofans (e.g. 115.000 Ibfthrust) and of the large twin engine planes they will power make it possible to consider jumbo carriers that could be derived at moderate development costs and risks for airborne space launch. The Molnya company has been proposing such kind of plane (the Herakles-1000) for 5 years now (ref. 7), announcing a 45Ot maximum cargo capacity for this 900t GTOW special design plane, powered with conventional kerosene fuelled turbofans of GE90 class. Advertised data for Herakles-1000 (Jane's 98-99) are summarised in table 1.
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4. Fifty percent (70t), at least, of this LH2 load can be used to collect 210t of LOX with the same CR =3.0 assumed in §3. That would authorize to design a 300t initial mass LOX/LH2 LV of more than 360t with LOX/Kerosene propulsion (configurations C and D in Table 2). An improved LCP achieving CR = 4 would similarly allow to collect 280t of LOX and launch much heavier vehicles (configurations E and F). Increasing the percentage of LH2 used for Lox-collection (earlier operation and/or shorter flight after LV release) would also provide a significant increase of the LOX mass available, whatever the CR achieved. Configuration (G) illustratesthis point with 58% oftheLH2 load instead of 50%. Some nay-sayers often put forward the development cost of a large special carrier plane as a major objection, generally without any serious demonstration. However, the successive developments of the Guppy, Super Guppy and now Beluga cargo planes have fairly well demonstrated that this argument has no real weight provided designers abide two basic rules:
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