Austral Launch Vehicle
The Austral Launch Vehicle (ALV) is a concept for a re-usable launch vehicle first stage. It would use fly-back UAV boosters to reduce overall launch costs.
Proponents
[edit]The ALV concept is being developed by Heliaq Advanced Engineering and the University of Queensland from Brisbane, Queensland (Australia).[1] Additional involvement is from the United Kingdom, France and South Africa.[2]
System
[edit]First stage
[edit]The ALV system uses between one and six boosters connected to a core. The boosters each have a V-tail system that, on launch, act as stabilising fins; during the return flight and landing, the V-tail provides directional control. After first stage separation, the boosters coast (ballistic cruise). After re-entry, at around 350 km down range, the wings deploy and the boosters manoeuvre for return flight to the launch site, using a deployable propeller driven by an engine, acting as a large UAV.[1]
Second stage
[edit]The SPARTAN Second Stage core flies on after First Stage booster separation, with the stack. The core separates and returns to the atmosphere and Earth and is not recovered.
Third stage
[edit]After fairing separation, the Third Stage and Payload fly to orbit. Payload separation is as required for the mission. Third Stage deorbits and burns up on entry.
Testing
[edit]Flight tests were scheduled for late in 2015.[1] The first successful flight of the ALV was completed on 23 December 2015.[3]
Associated projects
[edit]See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c The race is still on for a reusable rocket despite the SpaceX setback, Michael Smart, The Conversation (website), 22 April 2015
- ^ Schutte, Adriaan (2014). "The Austral Launch Vehicle: Reducing Space Transportation Cost Through Reusability, Modularity And Simplicity" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 April 2017.
- ^ "UQ system set to launch Australia into space". UQ News. 24 December 2015. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
- Schutte, Adriaan; Thoreau, Peter (2017). "The Austral Launch Vehicle: 2014 Progress in Reducing Space Transportation Cost through Reusability, Modularity and Simplicity". Proceedings of the 12th Reinventing Space Conference. Springer Nature International Publishing. pp. 185–197. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-34024-1_15. ISBN 978-3-319-34023-4. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
- Preller, Dawid; Smart, Michael (2017). "SPARTAN: Scramjet Powered Accelerator for Reusable Technology AdvaNcement". Proceedings of the 12th Reinventing Space Conference. Springer Nature. pp. 139–147. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-34024-1_11. ISBN 978-3-319-34023-4. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
- A. Schutte, P. Thoreau, "The Austral Launch Vehicle: 2014 Progress in Reducing Space Transportation Cost through Reusability, Modularity and Simplicity" Proceedings of the 12th Reinventing Space Conference, Springer Nature
- Preller, Dawid; Smart, Michael K. (2015). "Scramjets for Reusable Launch of Small Satellites". 20th AIAA International Space Planes and Hypersonic Systems and Technologies Conference. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. doi:10.2514/6.2015-3586. ISBN 978-1-62410-320-9. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
- Funnell, Antony (11 November 2015). "Australia's role in the quest for super-fast flight". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
- Dunn, James (22 November 2016). "Cruising at more than five times the speed of sound". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
- "Three stages to space" (PDF). AEROSPACE. Vol. 44, no. 1. London: Royal Aeronautical Society. January 2017. ISSN 2052-451X. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
- Crozier, Ry (2015-12-15). "Start-ups test small satellite launcher above Brisbane". iTnews. nextmedia. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
- Sharwood, Simon (2015-08-15). "Queensland boffins ponder Scramjet satellite launch plan". The Register. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
- Norris, Guy (2016-08-03). "Flyback Options" (PDF). Aviation Week & Space Technology. New York. p. 68. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
- Quick, Darren (10 August 2015). "Scramjet-based project looks to blast Australia into space". New Atlas. Retrieved 19 May 2025.