The work is an announcement on the current state of the research project implementation. The study presents the results of an analysis of the project’s research area. On this basis, the two-stage micro-satellite launch system was selected. The system, a space-kit is based on an adopted combat aircraft carrying a satellite-laden rocket that is fired at the maximum altitude. As a potential transport platform, two withdrawn supersonic aircraft were selected: the MiG-29 and the Su-22. A dedicated mission-laden rocket is to be carried under the fuselage. Preliminary analyses have shown that the aircraft indicated with the proposed mission profile will successfully carry out the task of launching a hypothetical rocket with a payload of at least 10 kg into low earth orbit. This confirmed the merits of the basic thesis of the research project. For the analysis of the aeromechanical properties of the kit, both 3D digital models for computer simulations and physical models scaled for tunnel tests were developed. Laser scanners were used to map aircraft geometry, and measurements were made on Su-22 and MiG-29 aircraft in the aviation laboratory of the Military University of Technology. Using three-dimensional scaled models generated in a CAD environment, physical solid models were printed for wind tunnel investigations. Preliminary computer simulations conducted in the ANSYS Fluent system did not point out any negative impact of the rocket on aerodynamic characteristics and stability of the both carrier aircraft. Keywords: air-launch satellite system, air-launch platform, microsatellite.

In recent decades, the rapid development of alternative methods for launching satellites into space has been observed. The main purpose of this work is to obtain reliable information about aerodynamic properties, which will be useful in the preliminary design of a low-cost satellite launch system based on a system consisting of a carrier aircraft and a space rocket orbiter. The numerical geometry of the aircraft carrier was developed as a result of the digitization process of the external surface of a real aircraft. Aerodynamic analysis was performed using specialized software based on solving partial differential equations using the finite volumes method. The results of the aerodynamic analysis were presented in a quantitative and qualitative manner. Furthermore, in order to confirm the correctness of the chosen method, the obtained results were compared with the results of experimental tests carried out in a wind tunnel. This will also prove that the adopted method is sufficient for solving this type of problem. The main advantage of the presented method is obtainment of reliable results in a relatively short time, which is extremely important during the preliminary design stage. The results presented in this paper will certainly be helpful for all researchers involved in the development of new and low-cost methods for launching small satellites into LEO.

Praca jest komunikatem dotyczącym stanu realizacji projektu badawczego. W opracowaniu zaprezentowano wyniki analizy obszaru badawczego projektu. Na tej podstawie dokonano wyboru platformy-nosiciela rakiety kosmicznej. Dwustopniowy system do wynoszenia mikro-satelity bazuje na zaadoptowanym samolocie bojowym przenoszącym rakietę z ładunkiem satelitarnym, która odstrzeliwana jest na maksymalnie osiąganej wysokości lotu. Jako potencjalną platformę transportową wytypowano dwa wycofywane ze służby bojowe samoloty naddźwiękowe: MiG-29 oraz Su-22. Dedykowana rakieta z ładunkiem misyjnym ma być przenoszona pod kadłubem. Wstępne analizy wykazały, iż wskazane samoloty przy zaproponowanym profilu misji z powodzeniem wykonają postawione zadanie wyniesienia hipotetycznej rakiety z ładunkiem użytecznym o masie co najmniej 10 kg na niską orbitę okołoziemską. Potwierdziło to zasadność podstawowej tezy projektu badawczego. Dla potrzeb analizy własności aeromechanicznych zestawu opracowano zarówno modele cyfrowe 3D do symulacji komputerowych, jak i fizyczne modele skalowane do badań tunelowych. Do odwzorowania geometrii samolotów wykorzystano skanery laserowe, a pomiary wykonano na egzemplarzach samolotów Su-22 oraz MiG-29 znajdujących się w zasobach bazy laboratoryjnej Instytutu Techniki Lotniczej WML WAT. Wykorzystując trójwymiarowe modele skalowane wygenerowane w środowisku CAD, wydrukowano fizyczne modele bryłowe do badań w tunelu aerodynamicznym. Wstępne symulacje komputerowe przeprowadzone w systemie ANSYS Fluent nie wykazały negatywnego wpływu rakiety kosmicznej na charakterystyki aerodynamiczne i stateczność samolotu-nosiciela.

Modelowanie matematyczne i symulacja komputerowa lotu celu powietrznego z wykorzystaniem pakietu MathCADMathematical modeling and computer simulation of a flight air target with the use of a package MathCAD

This paper presents the results of aerodynamic testing of air-launch rocket kit models for launching payloads into a low Earth orbit. The work was performed in a low-speed wind tunnel at the Military University of Technology (MUT, Warsaw, Poland)), using symmetrical airflow. Two carrier aircraft models were tested, i.e., Su-22 and MiG-29 aircraft without launched payloads and with these payloads at a dynamic pressure of q = 500 [Pa] and the range of angles of attack at α = -2828. The values obtained related to the aerodynamic drag coefficient, aerodynamic lift coefficient, pitching moment coefficient and lift to drag ratio, and are given in tabular and graphic forms. The tests were primarily used to validate the numerical results obtained during implementation of the project “Air-assisted rocket system for launching payloads into low Earth orbit - feasibility study”.