Space launch vehicles configured as gliders and towed to launch altitude by conventional aircraft

A towed glider space launch system adapted to be towed by a conventional aircraft comprising:

• a first vehicle having
• aerodynamic lifting surfaces providing lift sufficient to support atmospheric flight of the first vehicle at an airspeed less than the takeoff speed of a conventional aircraft,
• an integral payload bay,
• access means for ingress and egress from the payload bay,
• means for releasable attachment of a tow cable, and
• a throttleable rocket propulsion engine for increasing the velocity of the first vehicle;
• a second vehicle received in the payload bay through said access means and having
• an interface for attachment of a spacecraft, and
• an upper stage propulsion system, said second vehicle ejectable through said access means.

A method for launch of a spacecraft employing a first launch vehicle having aerodynamic lifting surfaces providing lift sufficient to support atmospheric flight of the first vehicle at an air speed less than the takeoff speed of a conventional aircraft, an integral payload bay, access means for ingress and egress from the payload bay, means for releasable attachment of a tow cable, and throttleable rocket propulsion engine, a second vehicle received in the payload bay through said access means and having an interface for attachment of the spacecraft and an upper stage propulsion system and a tow aircraft, the method comprising the steps of:

• inserting the second vehicle in the payload bay of the first vehicle;
• attaching a tow cable from the tow aircraft to the first vehicle;
• accelerating the tow aircraft past its rotation speed on a runway;
• controlling the first vehicle for takeoff;
• rotating the tow aircraft for takeoff upon the first launch vehicle attaining a suitable altitude;
• flying the tow aircraft to a desired launch location;
• igniting the rocket engine of the launch vehicle;
• casting off the tow line from the launch vehicle upon verification of proper rocket propulsion operation;
• controlling the launch vehicle for climb to a predetermined altitude and velocity;
• opening the access means to the payload bay;
• ejecting the second vehicle from the payload bay;
• operating the upper stage propulsion system for insertion of the spacecraft into orbit;
• closing the access means to the payload bay;
• and
• controlling the first vehicle for atmospheric reentry and gliding flight to a recovery landing field.

A towed glider space launch vehicle system comprising:

• A tow aircraft adapted to tow a glider;
• a glider having
• aerodynamic lifting surfaces providing lift sufficient to support atmospheric flight of the glider at an airspeed less than the takeoff speed of the tow aircraft,
• an integral payload bay in the glider,
• access means for ingress and egress from the payload bay,
• means for releasable attachment of a tow cable between the tow aircraft and the glider, and
• a throttleable rocket propulsion engine for increasing the velocity of the glider,
• means for receiving a second vehicle in the payload bay through said access means,
• said second vehicle having
• an interface attachment for a spacecraft, and
• an upper stage propulsion system, said second vehicle being ejectable through said access means for launch during flight of the glider.