Small Launch Vehicle Payload Enhancement Using Air-Breathing Propulsion Technology

D. I. Wade. (1997), JBIS, 50, pp.123-128

Refcode: 1997.50.123

Abstract:

The explosion of interest in small satellites over the past decade has resulted in the small satellite movement becoming a large segment of the space sector. Early small satellite missions were relatively simple in nature and their launch could be easily catered for using the excess capability of traditional launch vehicles. Such ‘piggy-back’ opportunities provided low cost access to space, but constrained mission requirements as the main launch customer would dictate operating orbit parameters.