Science Realm
Encyclopedia
Science Realm is a United States Government project
with the aim of creating a vertical-takeoff horizontal-landing (VTOHL
) single stage to orbit (SSTO) craft
, the term is also associated with the software this project uses to simulate takeoff
and landing
.
horizontal-take off horizontal-landing (HOTOL
) SSTO
spaceplane
. However, it became clear that horizontal takeoff requirement was an inappropriate application of rocket
thrust-to-weight ratio
; the angle
and relative size of rocket and earth
meant the path of least effort was almost completely vertical (completely against gravitation
). Consequently, SCIENCE DAWN ended, and the focus transferred to SCIENCE REALM.
on 11 August 1998. The unmanned vehicle was dropped from an US Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter at an altitude of 9,000 feet, performed a controlled approach and landed on the runway. The total flight time was 90 seconds. During the initial portion of the its free fall
, the maneuver vehicle was stabilized by a parachute
. After it is released from the parachute, the vehicle accelerated and perform a controlled glide. This glide simulated the final approach and landing phases of such a vehicle returning from orbit.
. Due to the high secrecy of the project, instead of giving a threshold and objective for each mission requirement, missions sets are defined.
Spacecraft
Other spaceplane
Project
A project in business and science is typically defined as a collaborative enterprise, frequently involving research or design, that is carefully planned to achieve a particular aim. Projects can be further defined as temporary rather than permanent social systems that are constituted by teams...
with the aim of creating a vertical-takeoff horizontal-landing (VTOHL
VTOHL
Vertical take-off and horizontal landing is an aircraft that can lift off vertically but land in the traditional manner.While many VTOL aircraft can operate in this fashion, some planes must land normally after taking off vertically due to a vertical landing either being impossible or impractical...
) single stage to orbit (SSTO) craft
Spaceplane
A spaceplane is a vehicle that operates as an aircraft in Earth's atmosphere, as well as a spacecraft when it is in space. It combines features of an aircraft and a spacecraft, which can be thought of as an aircraft that can endure and maneuver in the vacuum of space or likewise a spacecraft that...
, the term is also associated with the software this project uses to simulate takeoff
Takeoff
Takeoff is the phase of flight in which an aerospace vehicle goes from the ground to flying in the air.For horizontal takeoff aircraft this usually involves starting with a transition from moving along the ground on a runway. For balloons, helicopters and some specialized fixed-wing aircraft , no...
and landing
Landing
thumb|A [[Mute Swan]] alighting. Note the ruffled feathers on top of the wings indicate that the swan is flying at the [[Stall |stall]]ing speed...
.
Science Dawn
Science Realms predecessor Science Dawn was a classified program to build a rocket-launched supersonicSupersonic
Supersonic speed is a rate of travel of an object that exceeds the speed of sound . For objects traveling in dry air of a temperature of 20 °C this speed is approximately 343 m/s, 1,125 ft/s, 768 mph or 1,235 km/h. Speeds greater than five times the speed of sound are often...
horizontal-take off horizontal-landing (HOTOL
HOTOL
HOTOL, for Horizontal Take-Off and Landing, was a British air-breathing space shuttle effort by Rolls Royce and British Aerospace.Designed as a single-stage-to-orbit reusable winged launch vehicle, it was to be fitted with a unique air-breathing engine, the RB545 called the Swallow, to be...
) SSTO
Single-stage-to-orbit
A single-stage-to-orbit vehicle reaches orbit from the surface of a body without jettisoning hardware, expending only propellants and fluids. The term usually, but not exclusively, refers to reusable vehicles....
spaceplane
Spaceplane
A spaceplane is a vehicle that operates as an aircraft in Earth's atmosphere, as well as a spacecraft when it is in space. It combines features of an aircraft and a spacecraft, which can be thought of as an aircraft that can endure and maneuver in the vacuum of space or likewise a spacecraft that...
. However, it became clear that horizontal takeoff requirement was an inappropriate application of rocket
Rocket
A rocket is a missile, spacecraft, aircraft or other vehicle which obtains thrust from a rocket engine. In all rockets, the exhaust is formed entirely from propellants carried within the rocket before use. Rocket engines work by action and reaction...
thrust-to-weight ratio
Power (physics)
In physics, power is the rate at which energy is transferred, used, or transformed. For example, the rate at which a light bulb transforms electrical energy into heat and light is measured in watts—the more wattage, the more power, or equivalently the more electrical energy is used per unit...
; the angle
Angle
In geometry, an angle is the figure formed by two rays sharing a common endpoint, called the vertex of the angle.Angles are usually presumed to be in a Euclidean plane with the circle taken for standard with regard to direction. In fact, an angle is frequently viewed as a measure of an circular arc...
and relative size of rocket and earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
meant the path of least effort was almost completely vertical (completely against gravitation
Gravitation
Gravitation, or gravity, is a natural phenomenon by which physical bodies attract with a force proportional to their mass. Gravitation is most familiar as the agent that gives weight to objects with mass and causes them to fall to the ground when dropped...
). Consequently, SCIENCE DAWN ended, and the focus transferred to SCIENCE REALM.
Spaceplane
The Space Maneuver Vehicle (SMV) completed a successful autonomous approach and landing on its first flight testFlight test
Flight test is a branch of aeronautical engineering that develops and gathers data during flight of an aircraft and then analyzes the data to evaluate the flight characteristics of the aircraft and validate its design, including safety aspects...
on 11 August 1998. The unmanned vehicle was dropped from an US Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter at an altitude of 9,000 feet, performed a controlled approach and landed on the runway. The total flight time was 90 seconds. During the initial portion of the its free fall
Free fall
Free fall is any motion of a body where gravity is the only force acting upon it, at least initially. These conditions produce an inertial trajectory so long as gravity remains the only force. Since this definition does not specify velocity, it also applies to objects initially moving upward...
, the maneuver vehicle was stabilized by a parachute
Parachute
A parachute is a device used to slow the motion of an object through an atmosphere by creating drag, or in the case of ram-air parachutes, aerodynamic lift. Parachutes are usually made out of light, strong cloth, originally silk, now most commonly nylon...
. After it is released from the parachute, the vehicle accelerated and perform a controlled glide. This glide simulated the final approach and landing phases of such a vehicle returning from orbit.
Performance requirements
The project is split into four Maximum Performance Missions Sets, which attempt to define the maximum conditions for four general uses of the spaceplaneSpaceplane
A spaceplane is a vehicle that operates as an aircraft in Earth's atmosphere, as well as a spacecraft when it is in space. It combines features of an aircraft and a spacecraft, which can be thought of as an aircraft that can endure and maneuver in the vacuum of space or likewise a spacecraft that...
. Due to the high secrecy of the project, instead of giving a threshold and objective for each mission requirement, missions sets are defined.
Mark I
Demonstrator or ACTD non-orbital vehicle that can only pop up- Pop-up profile: Approximately Mach 16 at 300 kft at payload separation
- Pop up and deliver 1 to 3 klbs of mission assets (does not include boost stage, aeroshell, guidance or propellant) to any terrestrial destination
- Pop up and deliver 3 to 5 klbs of orbital assets (does not include upperstage) due east to a 100 x 100 NM orbit
- Payload bay size 10' x 5' x 5', weight capacity 10 klbs
Mark II
Mark 2 defines an orbit capable vehicle with these requirements- Pop up and deliver 7 to 9 klbs of mission assets (does not include boost stage, aeroshell, guidance or propellant) to any terrestrial destination
- Pop up and deliver 15 klbs of orbital assets (does not include upperstage) due east to a 100 x 100 NM orbit
- Launch due east, carrying 4-klb payload, orbit at 100 x 100 NM
- Payload bay size 25' x 12' x 12', weight capacity 20 klbs
Mark III
- Pop up and deliver 14 to 18 klbs of mission assets (does not include boost stage, aeroshell, guidance or propellant) to any terrestrial destination
- Pop up and deliver 25 klbs of orbital assets (does not include upperstage) due east to a 100 x 100 NM orbit
- Launch due east, carrying a 6-klb payload, orbit at 100 x 100 NM and return to base
- Launch polar, carrying 1-klb payload and return to base
- Payload bay size 25' x 12' x 12', weight capacity 40 klbs
Mark IV
- Pop up and deliver 20 to 30 klbs of mission assets (does not include boost stage, aeroshell, guidance or propellant) to any terrestrial destination
- Pop up and deliver 45 klbs of orbital assets (does not include upperstage) due east to a 100 x 100 NM orbit
- Launch due east, carrying a 20-klb payload, orbit at 100 x 100 NM and return to base
- Launch polar, carrying 5-klb payload and return to base
- Payload bay size 45' x 15' x 15', weight capacity 60 klbs
SpacecraftSpacecraft propulsionSpacecraft propulsion is any method used to accelerate spacecraft and artificial satellites. There are many different methods. Each method has drawbacks and advantages, and spacecraft propulsion is an active area of research. However, most spacecraft today are propelled by forcing a gas from the...
and spaceplane propulsion
- Aerospike engineAerospike engineThe aerospike engine is a type of rocket engine that maintains its aerodynamic efficiency across a wide range of altitudes through the use of an aerospike nozzle. It is a member of the class of altitude compensating nozzle engines. A vehicle with an aerospike engine uses 25–30% less fuel at low...
- Space transport
- ScramjetScramjetA scramjet is a variant of a ramjet airbreathing jet engine in which combustion takes place in supersonic airflow...
Other spaceplaneSpaceplaneA spaceplane is a vehicle that operates as an aircraft in Earth's atmosphere, as well as a spacecraft when it is in space. It combines features of an aircraft and a spacecraft, which can be thought of as an aircraft that can endure and maneuver in the vacuum of space or likewise a spacecraft that...
and spacecraftSpacecraftA spacecraft or spaceship is a craft or machine designed for spaceflight. Spacecraft are used for a variety of purposes, including communications, earth observation, meteorology, navigation, planetary exploration and transportation of humans and cargo....
vehicles
- Avatar RLVAvatar RLV-Articles:**-Reports:* ISRO...
- NASA Space Shuttle decisionNASA Space Shuttle decisionEven before the Apollo moon landing in 1969, in October 1968, NASA began early studies of space shuttle designs. The early studies were denoted "Phase A", and in June 1970, "Phase B", which were more detailed and specific. The primary intended use of the space shuttle was supporting the future...
- HOTOLHOTOLHOTOL, for Horizontal Take-Off and Landing, was a British air-breathing space shuttle effort by Rolls Royce and British Aerospace.Designed as a single-stage-to-orbit reusable winged launch vehicle, it was to be fitted with a unique air-breathing engine, the RB545 called the Swallow, to be...
- Reaction Engines Skylon
- VentureStarVentureStarVentureStar was a proposed spaceplane design for a single-stage-to-orbit reusable launch system by Lockheed Martin. The program's primary goal as a United States federally funded program was to develop a reusable unmanned spaceplane for launching satellites into orbit at a fraction of the cost of...
- X-30
- X-33