Rocket-powered, air-deployed, lift-assisted booster vehicle for orbital, supraorbital and suborbital flight

A method of air launching a rocket booster vehicle by separating it from a carrier aircraft while in flight, wherein said vehicle has controllable wing means for providing aerodynamic lift and trajectory control and thrust means for propelling said vehicle, comprising the steps of:

• detachably mounting said vehicle to said carrier aircraft;
• flying said vehicle to a launch location;
• detaching said vehicle from said carrier aircraft at the launch location;
• initiating said thrust means to propel said vehicle;
• controlling said wing means to give said vehicle a positive angle of attack for a first time period to cause said vehicle to climb at an increasing angle of ascent during at least a portion of said first time period;
• and
• controlling said wing means to give said vehicle a negative angle of attack after the lapse of said first time period to cause said vehicle to climb at a decreasing angle.

A method of air launching a rocket vehicle from a carrier aircraft, wherein said vehicle has controllable aerodynamic wing means for providing aerodynamic lift and trajectory control and thrust means for propelling said vehicle, comprising the steps of:

• launching said vehicle from said carrier aircraft;
• increasing the altitude of said vehicle to a predetermined point on a trajectory by the lift and control provided by said wing means and the propulsion provided by said thrust means;
• and
• jettisoning said wing means at said predetermined point.

A rocket booster vehicle adapted for air launch by being released from a carrier aircraft in flight, comprising:

• expendable wing means for providing aerodynamic lift and trajectory control for said vehicle after launch from said carrier aircraft to lift and guide said vehicle along a predetermined ascending trajectory;
• and
• thrust means for propelling said vehicle along the trajectory;
• and
• attachment means for releasably attaching said vehicle to said carrier aircraft;
• wherein said wing means provides trajectory control of said vehicle to a point on the trajectory at which dynamic pressure is less than a first predetermined value.

A method of air launching a rocket vehicle by separating it from a carrier aircraft while in flight, wherein said vehicle has controllable wing means for providing aerodynamic lift and trajectory control and thrust means for propelling said vehicle, comprising the steps of:

• detachably mounting said vehicle to said carrier aircraft;
• flying said vehicle to a launch location;
• releasing said vehicle from said carrier aircraft at the launch location;
• initiating said thrust means to propel said vehicle along an ascent trajectory;
• controlling said wing means to give said vehicle a positive angle of attack to cause said vehicle to climb at an increasing angle of ascent along said ascent trajectory to a predetermined point on said ascent trajectory;
• and
• controlling said wing means to give said vehicle a negative angle of attack to cause said vehicle to climb along said ascent trajectory at a decreasing angle of ascent beyond said predetermined point.

A method of air launching a rocket vehicle by separating it from a carrier aircraft while in flight, wherein said vehicle has controllable wing means for providing aerodynamic lift and trajectory control and controllable thrust means for propelling and providing trajectory control of said vehicle, comprising the steps:

• detachably mounting said vehicle to said carrier aircraft;
• flying said vehicle to a launch location;
• detaching said vehicle from said carrier aircraft at the launch location;
• initiating said thrust means to propel said vehicle;
• controlling said wing means to guide said vehicle along a desired trajectory until the dynamic pressure is less than a predetermined value;
• expending said wing means;
• and
• controlling said thrust means to propel and guide said vehicle along the desired trajectory beyond where said wing means are expended.

A rocket booster vehicle adapted for launch by being released from a carrier aircraft while in flight, comprising:

• at least first and second stage thrust means for propelling and providing trajectory control of said vehicle;
• expendable wing means for providing aerodynamic lift and trajectory control for said vehicle;
• and
• carrying means for releasably carrying said vehicle with said carrier aircraft;
• at least first and second stages carrying said at least first and second stage thrust means, respectively, said wing means being secured to said first stage;
• detachment means for separating said wing means from said second stage;
• and
• wherein said wing means provides trajectory control during a first predetermined period after release by said carrying means of said vehicle from said carrier aircraft, and said first and second thrust means provide trajectory control after said first predetermined period.

A rocket booster vehicle adapted for launch by being released from a carrier aircraft while in flight, comprising:

• at least first and second thrust means for propelling and providing trajectory control of said vehicle;
• wing means for providing aerodynamic lift and trajectory control for said vehicle during a powered phase of its trajectory;
• and
• carrying means for releasably carrying said vehicle with said carrier aircraft;
• at least first and second stages carrying said at least first and second stage thrust means, respectively, said wing means being secured to said first stage;
• detachment means for separating said first stage and said wing means from said second stage;
• and
• wherein said wing means provides trajectory control during a first predetermined period after release by said carrying means of said vehicle from said carrier aircraft, and said first and second thrust means provide trajectory control after said first predetermined period.