Promising solutions for fully reusable two-stage-to-orbit configurations

Numerous studies have already identified that Fully Reusable Launch Vehicle Two-Stage-To-Orbit concepts (FRLV TSTO) could be one of the best solutions for meeting economical and technical objectives of second-generation RLV. In 2001, CNES initiated and funded system studies aimed at defining the most promising FRLV TSTO configurations in terms of technical and technological challenges and economical effectiveness. EADS-LV leads for this purpose an industrial team composed of EADS-LV, SNECMA Moteurs, DASSAULT Aviation and ONERA. The presented programme is a two-phase study addressing three coupled issues: viable configuration definition, key issues analysis and vehicle architecture design. The first phase has been split into three periods: (1) establishing preliminary but consolidated assumptions and ground rules, (2) systematic computation of the two stages main features for a given payload mass into LEO orbit, (3) preliminary definition of remarkable configurations and associated propulsion systems. The second phase, under development, is mainly focused on the design of a study configuration by figuring out key issues and providing consolidated data (technical and economical performance). This paper intends to present the major investigations of the first phase: • a survey of the overall approach; • the main technical characteristics; • the major recommendations for further steps.