Method and apparatus for dropping a launch vehicle from beneath an airplane

A method of deploying a launch vehicle from beneath a carrier aircraft, the carrier aircraft having a direction of flight defining a forward direction in the direction of flight and a rearward direction opposite the direction of flight, the method comprising the steps of:

• carrying the launch vehicle with the carrier aircraft to a selected launch altitude;
• deploying an aerodynamic drag device connected to a rearward portion of the launch vehicle, and applying a rearward force to the launch vehicle with the aerodynamic drag device;
• releasing the launch vehicle from the carrier aircraft so that gravity causes a constantly increasing separation between the launch vehicle and the carrier aircraft;
• first constraining the launch vehicle, as the launch vehicle falls away from the carrier aircraft with the actuation of a first mechanism, so that the launch vehicle can not pitch up into contact with the carrier aircraft;
• following the actuation of the first mechanism, actuating a second mechanism to apply a selected impulse to the launch vehicle to cause the launch vehicle to pitch upwardly at a selected rate of rotation in a pitch plane defined by the carrier aircraft;
• following actuating the second mechanism, separating all mechanical connections to the carrier aircraft so that the launch vehicle and the drag device continue to fall away from the carrier aircraft;
• substantially reducing the selected rate of rotation in the pitch plane by the action of the aerodynamic drag device;
• and
• allowing the launch vehicle to rotate to a selected pitch angle and igniting an engine mounted to the launch vehicle, separating the aerodynamic drag device from the launch vehicle and beginning a controlled flight trajectory with the launch vehicle.

An apparatus for deploying a launch vehicle from beneath a carrier aircraft, the carrier aircraft having a direction of flight, the carrier aircraft defining a forward direction in the direction of flight and a rearward direction opposite the direction of flight, comprising:

• the launch vehicle substantially without lifting surfaces and having a mass greater than about 9,000 slugs releasably mounted beneath the carrier aircraft for carry to a selected launch altitude;
• a first mechanical linkage arranged to constrain the launch vehicle over a first selected distance from the carrier aircraft so that the launch vehicle can not pitch up into contact with the carrier aircraft, and the first mechanical linkage arranged to release the launch vehicle, at the first selected distance;
• a second mechanical linkage creating a releasable connection between the launch vehicle and the carrier aircraft when the carrier aircraft is spaced more than the first selected distance and less than a second selected distance from the carrier aircraft, the second mechanical linkage arranged to apply a selected tension through the connection to the launch vehicle, as the launch vehicle moves to the second selected distance, wherein at a distance greater than the second selected distance the launch vehicle is not connected to the carrier aircraft as the launch vehicle falls away from the carrier aircraft.