Hybrid Propelled Access to Space: Feasibility Study on a Hybrid Propulsion Concept for the Mk-III Spaceplane

In pursuit of cost-effective and sustainable space access, Dawn Aerospace is pioneering innovative launch systems. Their focus lies on a semi-reusable, two-stage-to-orbit launch vehicle, designed for horizontal take-off and landing. While current launch vehicles rely solely on rocket propulsion, the potential of airbreathing engines on the first...

Mission Design for Flyback Boosters: Towards Reusable Launch Vehicles

The development of reusable launch vehicles in space exploration is a significant paradigm shift in the aerospace industry. Among numerous approaches to fully reusable launchers, a flyback booster, complemented by the emerging importance of spaceplanes, stands out as a viable solution. To outweigh the drawbacks associated with the cost, a...

An Evaluation of Next Generation Rocket Engines for VT SSTO RLV

Observing that the majority of SSTO programs failed due to the propulsion system being far ahead of its time. Furthermore, acknowledging the that the private launch markets is increasingly dominated by partly reusable TSTOs. This thesis aims to evaluate whether next generation rocket engines make an SSTO viable within a foreseeable economical...

Reliability and Cost Modeling of Reusable Launch Vehicles: Predicting, Preventing and Mitigating the Cost of Failure

The renaissance of reusable space launch vehicles that is being witnessed in the current space industry demands a new cost estimating approach, which takes into account not only the time dependency in the lifecycle brought upon by reusability, but also the complementary considerations of minimizing cost and reliability. To achieve this end, a...