Forschungsgruppe Alternative Raumfahrtkonzepte
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A capsule designed to accommodate up to 3 crew members is mounted on top of the rocket, which is able to reach an altitude of at least 100 kilometres in a vertical ascent. The ALLTRA-M1 would thus meet the X-Price criteria. The crew will be weightlessness for several minutes during their ascent without propulsion and free fall back to earth. The ALLTRA-M1 rocket has a total launching mass of about 10 tons only (fully fueled) and its dimensions are such that it would almost fit into any garage. The rocket is equipped with a hybrid propulsion system, in which liquid oxygene (in the central tank) is burned up with an ordinary solid plastic (in the two lateral strap-on boosters). Hybrid propulsion (i.e. the combination of a solid and a liquid fuel) represents an interesting alternative between the classical solid and liquid/liquid propulsion systems. Its simple design, enermous production tolerances and environmentally friendly and inexpensive fuels, possibly produced from recycled materials such as tire rubber, make them a good candidate for low-cost high power propulsion systems. Most important: Hybrids cannot explode, even when operating, and they are therefore the propulsion system of choice for any future space tourist application. Hybrids are also cheap. A complete refueling of the ALLTRA-M1 rocket costs only about $5000.- It might therefore become the first truly economical space tourism concept.
The FAR ALLTRA-M1 dimensions, weight, fuel mass, flight pattern etc. have been fully verified in extensive calculations. Following FAR's general line of thought, the design is both simple and rugged. Much thought has been given to a containment of development cost. Standard off-the-shelf industrial components are to be used wherever possible. The central pressure tank domes which would be very hard to manufacture as "one-off's", are such parts (coming from industrial liquid gas tank suppliers).
In a 2-staged rocket concept, where the FAR ALLTRA-M1 would be the second (top) stage, it could even reach a stable orbit around the Earth. Development cost, which would mostly go into the capsule and hence into the "intelligence" of the system, would therefore be well-spent. Likewise, the FAR ALLTRA-M1 might also serve as the first (lower) stage in a two-stage launcher for small payloads of around 100 kg. We forecast a growing market for such payloads, which, currently, is not served by any other launcher.
Die Parameter der FAR ALLTRA-M1 wie Abmessungen, Gewicht, Treibstoffmassen, Flugkurve etc. sind durchgerechnet. Das Design ist, entsprechend den Grundstäzen von FAR, einfach und "geradeheraus". Kostenbegrenzung auf allen Ebenen der Entwicklung ist ein gleichberechtigtes Designkriterium. Standard Industriekomponenten (z.B. für die Domkappen des Zentraltanks) werden verwendet, wo immer möglich.
Als zweistufiges Konzept könnte die FAR ALLTRA-M1 auch eine stabile Umlaufbahn um die Erde erreichen. Die Entwicklungskosten, die hauptsächlich in die Kapsel, also in die "Intelligenz" des Systems gingen, wären also gut angelegt. Umgekehrt könnte die FAR ALLTRA-M1 die Unterstufe eines Zweistufers für Nutzlasten um ca. 100 kg bilden. Für diesen Markt, der derzeit von keinem anderen Startsystem bedient wird, sagen wir einen steigenden Bedarf voraus.
Dr. Thomas Stinnesbeck (Leiter von FAR, Head of FAR), E-Mail:
far@optipoint.com
Dr. Michael
Reichert, (Leiter von ALLTRA , Head of ALLTRA, E-Mail: michael.reichert@alltra.de)
Telefon: 49-2203-96-1702 * Fax: 49-2203-961400
