Category Archives: Rocket Design Theory

Payload fraction derivation for vehicle with split delta-V (case #2)

Posted on April 22, 2022 by Kirk Sorensen

Consider a vehicle carrying a payload that undertakes a first , then drops off that payload and undertakes a second in the same overall vehicle configuration (tanks, engines, payload handling, etc.). It carries the propellant for both maneuvers, but only … Continue reading →

Posted in Rocket Design Theory | 1 Comment

Payload fraction derivation for vehicle with split delta-V (case #1)

Posted on March 14, 2021 by Kirk Sorensen

Consider a vehicle that undertakes a first , then picks up a payload and undertakes a second . It carries the propellant for both maneuvers, but only on the second maneuver does it have the added mass of the payload. … Continue reading →

Posted in Rocket Design Theory | 2 Comments

Random Thoughts: New Shepard for Pop-Up TSTO NanoSat Launch

Posted on January 24, 2016 by Jonathan Goff

Blue Origin’s recent successful launch, recovery, and re-flight of their suborbital RLV New Shepard got me thinking about an idea that I came up with back in late November shortly after their first flight. In an article written shortly after … Continue reading →

Posted in Blue Origin, Launch Vehicles, Random Thoughts, Rocket Design Theory | 32 Comments

Boomerang Air-Launched TSTO RLV Concept Part III: Carrier Plane Support Subsystems

Posted on June 10, 2015 by Jonathan Goff

Before getting into my thoughts on potential options for the carrier plane itself, I wanted to mention a few nice-to-have options for the carrier plane itself. I don’t know that any of these is strictly required, but all potentially help: … Continue reading →

Posted in Boomerang TSTO RLV, Commercial Space, Launch Vehicles, Orbital Access Methodologies, Rocket Design Theory | 3 Comments

Boomerang Air-Launched TSTO RLV Concept Part II: Carrier Plane Gamma Maneuver Safety Considerations

Posted on June 10, 2015 by Jonathan Goff

In this post I would like to discuss some of the key considerations and options governing the carrier plane for my Boomerang TSTO RLV concept. Specifically I’ll be covering considerations relating to safely supporting the Gamma Maneuver, and useful support … Continue reading →

Posted in Boomerang TSTO RLV, Commercial Space, Launch Vehicles, Orbital Access Methodologies, Rocket Design Theory | 11 Comments

Boomerang Air-Launched TSTO RLV Concept (Part I)

Posted on May 26, 2015 by Jonathan Goff

Back when I left Masten to start Altius, I originally thought I was starting a launch vehicle company focused on reusable nanosat launchers. While we pivoted away from that to focus on space robotics, I’ve continued to dabble with a … Continue reading →

Posted in Boomerang TSTO RLV, Commercial Space, Launch Vehicles, Orbital Access Methodologies, Rocket Design Theory | 20 Comments

Random Thought: “Sufficiently Advanced” Propulsion Technology

Posted on January 29, 2013 by Jonathan Goff

In many discussions of rocket technology, a skeptic will often make some comment about how things would be so much better if we had Warp Drive. But the reality is that we don’t really need Warp Drive for things to … Continue reading →

Posted in Rocket Design Theory, Technology | 14 Comments

SSTO is a bad idea, but NTR SSTO is worse

Posted on June 10, 2010 by Kirk Sorensen

A few months ago, I spent some time describing some calculations of payload fraction that I derived to assist in the design of rocket vehicles. My motivation for getting into this type of work came about from my work on … Continue reading →

Posted in Rocket Design Theory | 37 Comments

Payload Fraction Calculation for Reusable Vehicles

Posted on March 1, 2010 by Kirk Sorensen

When I was learning how to use mass-estimating relationships (MERs) at Georgia Tech, our focus was on reusable launch vehicles, and most of our MERs came from NASA Langley, where my professor had once worked. When it came to much … Continue reading →

Posted in Rocket Design Theory | 7 Comments

Payload Fraction Example Proof

Posted on February 27, 2010 by Kirk Sorensen

Continuing with our story from last time… The next day, your boss pokes his head in your office and asks: “How’s those forty trans-Mars injection stages going?” He notices that you’re checking out scuba-dive sites in the Caribbean for your … Continue reading →

Posted in Rocket Design Theory | 62 Comments