Projects

'in-air-capturing'

A new, innovative approach for the return of non-SSTO reusable space transportation vehicles is proposed: The winged stages are to be caught in the air and towed back to their launch site without any necessity of an own propulsion system. This patented procedure is called in-air-capturing. The performance gain by this advanced method shows a possible increase in delivered payload between 15 % and 25%. Alternatively, the size of a reusable system can be significantly reduced compared to the standard approach, without any loss in payload mass. Details

LFBB

SART is in charge of system studies for the development of a partially reusable space transportation system, under study within the German future launcher technology research program ASTRA. It consists of dual booster stages, which are attached to the expendable Ariane 5 core (EPC) at an upgraded future technology level. The design of the reference liquid fly-back boosters (LFBB) is focused on LOX/LH2 propellant and a future derivative of the Vulcain rocket motor. The preliminary design study is performed in close cooperation between DLR and the German space industry. Details

Propulsion

Numerous engines have been analysed by SART in different levels of detail using a sophisticated Engine cycle analysis tool. Details

DSL

DSL is a concept for an advanced Two-Stage-to-Orbit (TSTO) space transportation system (STS). The main characteristics of this STS are a supersonic carrier aircraft, as the first or booster stage, and different types of air-launched upper stages. The mounting of these upper stages in a partially open cargo bay on the bottom of the carrier aircraft enables a large variety of reusable, as well as expendable, upper stages to economically reach each desired orbit, a safe separation maneuver, assisted by gravitational force. Read more

End of Life Deorbit

Active post-mission disposal of space structures will have an increased importance in the future in order to keep the Earth orbit in an acceptable condition for the safe operation of manned and unmanned missions. In a European Space Agency study jointly performed by industry and the German Aerospace Center, propulsive end-of-life de-orbiting concepts are elaborated. Two options, a direct, controlled de-orbit as well as a transfer to a limited lifetime orbit are considered. The suitability of various propulsion system options is assessed based on a set of evaluation criteria. These parameters are not limited to a mere comparison of the propulsion system but cover the impact on the entire satellite system as a whole. The assessment strategy is demonstrated by the example of reference satellites. Details

Solarthermal Propulsion

Solar Thermal Propulsion (STP) is proposed as alternative propulsion means for orbit transfer and planetary missions: the solar energy is accumulated by an absorber and rejected to a cryogenic propellant during a thrust phase. For interplanetary missions, the solar energy can be transferred directly to the propellant for continuous thrust. Read more