Analysis of Suborbital Launch Trajectories for Satellite Delivery

A computer simulation program was used to analyse performance of suborbital launch trajectories using a hypersonic NASP derived vehicle for satellite deployment. The trajectory investigated for this project involved satellite deployment as suborbital speeds. To deploy a satellite in this manner, a booster motor is used to insert the payload into orbit while the launch vehicle reenters and returns to earth. A simplified energy analysis was also formulated and used to determine the sensitivity of suborbital trajectory performance to specific design parameters. Results show that suborbital launch trajectories can increase the useful payload to orbit capacity over an identical vehicle flying a typical ascent where both the launch vehicle and payload are inserted into orbit. The amount of time available for payload deployment from a suborbital trajectory was also investigated with results showing that time periods on the order of ten minutes could be used for payload deployment.