The Concept of an Inflatable Reusable Launch Vehicle

Abstract

This article discusses the concept of a launch vehicle with an inflatable reusable first stage. The first stage may be in the form of an inflatable streamlined thin-walled tank with a low bulk density (which may be less than the standard sea-level density of air). Compressed light gases (hydrogen, helium) ensure the rigidity of the inflatable thin-walled tank. For return to Earth, the first stage is slows down in the upper atmosphere. In the lower atmosphere, the aerostatic lifting force exceeds the Earth's gravity. Thus, the first stage will float in the air (this will prevents its destruction). Then the first stage returns to the spaceport for reuse. The inflatable first stage of a launch vehicle will be very large. Therefore, the main purpose of this article is to study the influence of aerodynamic losses on the payload. The mass of the inflatable first stage and its vertical and horizontal stiffness will also be calculate (as a first approximation). These are the main questions that need to be answer for the opportunity further developed the concept. Therefore, this article should be consider as a preliminary study, not claiming to be complete.