NASA Dryden Towed Glider Air-Launch Concept

[Grif]

Doea anyone know any more about this idea:
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/videogallery/index.html?media_id=158494721
and what are the advantages over a powered launch aircraft?
Grif

 

[Stargazer]

what are the advantages over a powered launch aircraft?

Perhaps the lack of any structural modifications to the 747?

 

[Michel Van]

the advantages are:

you don't need major modification to the 747, like reenforce the aircraft structure, for additional mass on back.
or cutting hole in 747 belly to fit the rocket under fuselage.
also it more easy to launch the rocket behind 747,
While rocket launch of the 747 back, it could hit it's tail unit.
launch from hole in 747 belly, has aerodynamic and structural problem for 747 after rocket launch.

the disadvantage are
difficult stable flight with tug rocket behind, in worst case the glider&rocket could rise faster higher as the 747
but there are connect with cable, it will pull 747 nose down toward uncontrollable crash.

 

[GTX]

Wasn't there an earlier proposal for something similar to this - was about 10-15yrs ago IIRC

 

[Bill Walker]

There was a project that skipped the glider carrier aircraft, and towed a shuttle-like vehicle to an altitude where the glider disconnected and ignited rockets. NASA supported it with test towing an F-106 behind (I think) a C-141. The program was being developed by Kelly (from memory).

Just found a link, there are still in business: http://www.kellyspace.com/launchvehicle/

 

[GTX]

There was a project that skipped the glider carrier aircraft, and towed a shuttle-like vehicle to an altitude where the glider disconnected and ignited rockets. NASA supported it with test towing an F-106 behind (I think) a C-141. The program was being developed by Kelly (from memory).

Just found a link, there are still in business: http://www.kellyspace.com/launchvehicle/

Yep that's the one I was thinking of.

 

[blackstar]

How recent was that? I think there is a NASA monograph on that, and agree that it was around 2002 or so. What I find odd is that they were using an F-106. Why such an ancient aircraft?

 

[XP67_Moonbat]

In Convair Deltas, it's stated that Kelly chose it "to simulate a future launch vehicle because of it's low-aspect ratio and relatively high wing loading."