Tom R. Lucas

Mathematics Department
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Charlotte, NC 28223
trlucas@uncc.edu

Single Stage to Orbit Rockets

There is currently considerable popular interest in the question of whether Single Stage To Orbit (SSTO) rockets are a practical possibility. The recent success of the one-third scale DC-X test rocket as part of the Delta Clipper program, along with the recent article in the February, 1994 Popular Science, and discussion on the internet, have added to this interest. Previous work in this area was represented in the UMAP module 517 which concluded that multistage rockets were required, a conclusion that recent advances in technology have placed in question.

This project would involve modeling and numerical simulation of the basic physics involved with low orbital insertion of a single stage reusable rocket. The modeling would have three stages: ignoring gravity and air resistance (a well known "Rocket Law" follows from this model, giving an upper bound on the added velocity), with gravity but still without air resistance and finally with both gravity and air resistance. The effects of various strategies for burn rate will also be explored to a limited extent, for those models where it makes a difference. The hardest part is the modeling of air resistance, and the assumptions that have to be made and explored there.

Last modified: 17 July, 1997
Thomas L. Marchioro

uces_info@krellinst.org