Unmanned aerial vehicle launch system

A system for launching an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) payload, the system comprising:

• a launch tube;
• a plurality of stability tubes arranged with respect to the launch tube;
• a liquid rocket including:
• a cylindrical body circumscribed by the launch tube when the rocket is positioned in the launch tube, and defining an opening;
• a booster assembly connected to the cylindrical body, wherein the boost assembly includes a canister containing liquid water;
• a supply of a compressed gas;
• and
• a UAV payload disposed within the cylindrical body and configured to deploy from the opening in the cylindrical body only when the liquid rocket reaches a threshold altitude;
• and
• a launch control assembly positioned with respect to the launch tube, wherein the launch control assembly selectively pressurizes the canister by releasing the compressed gas into the launch rail and above a level of the liquid in the canister in response to a launch signal, and discharges the water and compressed gas in multiple thrust stages to thereby launch the liquid rocket from the launch tube and thereafter propel the liquid rocket to the threshold altitude;
• wherein the UAV payload deploys from the opening of the cylindrical body only after the liquid rocket has reached the threshold altitude.

A method of launching an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) payload, the method comprising:

• providing a liquid rocket having a body containing a UAV payload and a booster assembly that is connected to the body, wherein the booster assembly includes a supply of liquid and a supply of compressed gas;
• positioning the liquid rocket within a launch tube of a launch system;
• pressurizing the supply of liquid using the compressed gas;
• opening a nozzle of the liquid rocket after pressurizing the supply of liquid to thereby discharge the liquid and compressed gas in different liquid and gaseous thrust stages, thereby launching the liquid rocket to a threshold altitude;
• and
• ejecting the UAV payload from an opening in the body at the threshold altitude.