Development and Key Technologies of Reusable Launch Vehicle

doi:10.3981/j.issn.2097-0781.2022.01.006

Abstract

Abstract:

Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) is the future of space transportation system, and a prerequisite for large-scale and low-cost access to space. This paper reviews the development history of RLVs for more than 60 years, especially the latest progress driven by commercial space transportation in the past decade. This paper also presents the development progress of China RLV technology, particularly the vertical take-off and vertical landing (VTVL) technology. Given that the reusable method of VTVL has been successfully verified, the key technologies are summarized and discussed from the aspects of engine throttling, multiple startup, powered landing guidance and control, high-precision navigation, and mechanism. Some suggestions for China RLV development are proposed, including taking economy as a design constraint throughout, establishing reusable design methods and criteria, breaking through barriers of high-precision environments prediction technology, developing reusable detection, maintenance and evaluation technologies, rationally selecting the type of propulsion system, realizing VTVL integration demonstration and verification as soon as possible, and developing horizontal take-off and landing technology, aiming at laying a solid foundation for large-scale and low-cost access to space in future.

Key words: reusable launch vehicle, engine throttling, powered landing guidance and control, landing buffering mechanism, parachute recovery

摘要：

重复使用航天运载器是运载火箭的未来,也是满足大规模、高效益进出太空的前提条件。文章回顾了重复使用航天运载器技术60多年的发展历程,尤其是近10年来在商业航天的驱动下所取得的最新进展,同时总结了中国重复使用航天运载器技术,特别是垂直起降技术的进展。针对目前已被成功验证为可行的垂直起降的重复使用方式,从液体火箭发动机推力调节、液体火箭发动机多次起动、着陆制导与控制、高精度导航、机构方面对各项关键技术进行综述和讨论。提出中国重复使用航天运载器技术未来发展的建议,包括将经济性作为设计约束贯穿始终,建立重复使用设计方法与准则,突破载荷环境高精度预示技术,发展重复使用检测、维护与评估技术,合理选择动力系统类型,尽快实现垂直回收集成演示验证,以及兼顾发展水平起降重复使用航天运载器技术,从而为中国未来实现大规模、高效益进出太空打下坚实基础。

关键词: 重复使用航天运载器, 推力调节, 着陆制导与控制, 着陆缓冲机构, 伞降回收

SONG Zhengyu, HUANG Bing, WANG Xiaowei, ZHANG Hongjian, WANG Cong, ZHUANG Fangfang. Development and Key Technologies of Reusable Launch Vehicle[J]. Science and Technology Foresight, 2022, 1(1): 62-74.

宋征宇, 黄兵, 汪小卫, 张宏剑, 王聪, 庄方方. 重复使用航天运载器的发展及其关键技术[J]. 前瞻科技, 2022, 1(1): 62-74.

Figures/Tables 8

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动力系统类型	组合密度/ （g·cm^-3）	理论比冲/ （m·s^-1）	理论密度比冲/ [10³kg·(m²·s)^-1]	燃料冷却性能	重复使用性能
液氧煤油发动机	1.037	3367	3492	较好,但易积碳	较好,但需要清洗
液氧甲烷发动机	0.823	3481	2865	好,不易积碳	好

动力系统类型	组合密度/ （g·cm^-3）	理论比冲/ （m·s^-1）	理论密度比冲/ [10³kg·(m²·s)^-1]	燃料冷却性能	重复使用性能
液氧煤油发动机	1.037	3367	3492	较好,但易积碳	较好,但需要清洗
液氧甲烷发动机	0.823	3481	2865	好,不易积碳	好