An air-breathing launch vehicle concept for single-stage-to-orbit

Abstract

The "Trailblazer" is a 300-1b payload, single-stageto-orbit launch vehicle concept that uses air-breathing propulsion to reduce the required propellant fraction.

Computational study of flow in a rocket-based combined cycle (RBCC) engine inlet

“…In order to reduce space launch costs, reusable launch vehicles with short turn-around times including very robust single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) concepts are being considered. NASA Glenn Research Center (NASA-GRC) has undertaken a program to develop such an SSTO vehicle under the concept GTX (formerly Trailblazer) [1] (see Fig. 1) which is to be powered by a rocket-based combined cycle (RBCC) engine.…”

Dynamic Computational Analyses of Complete Scramjet Engine Modules

“…This mechanism for flowpath destabilization is initiated before the combustor becomes thermally choked at the exit plane. This technology is currently being applied to the GTX rocket-based combined-cycle engine [16] under development at NASA Glenn Research Center. Research will be focused toward examining the dynamic response of the engine flowfield during mode transition.…”

Simulation of a rocket base combined cycle exchange inlet at subsonic conditions

“…In the Independent Ramjet Stream (IRS) cycle, the design uses a different engine configuration to ensure complete mixing between injected fuel and air stream without increasing the duct length as shown in Figure 4c. This design is used by the GTX vehicle concept study by NASA [5]. Upstream of the rocket exhaust, fuel is injected into the air stream and ignites when it reaches the hot exhaust gases from the rocket.…”

“…The increase in mass flow augments the achievable thrust. Another study by Trefny [5], looks into single stage to orbit options and considers a RBCC engine as its primary propulsion unit.…”

“…It suggests that the vehicle has the potential to have an effective specific impulse of 500 seconds, implying the feasibility of such an engine to reduce launch costs [5,6].…”