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Presents the QuickReach for space lift and
global strike
Launch Anywhere . . . Strike Anywhere
The views, opinions, and/or findings contained
in this article are those of the author and
should not be interpreted as representing the
official policies, either expressed or implied,
of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
or the Department of Defense."
Approved for Public Release, Distribution
Unlimited
2nd Responsive Space Conference and Workshop
April 19-22, 2004 El Segundo, California
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QuickReach Will Deliver Responsive, Affordable
Launch

• QuickReach is a two-stage, pressurized liquid
  fuel missile that is released from the cargo bay
  of a C-17 or similar aircraft.
• Its shipping crate becomes the launch tube, which
  also incorporates all launch controls so that no
  modifications are needed in the carrier aircraft.
  

FALCON requirements QuickReach delivers
1,000 lbs to 200 km at 28.5º gt1,000 lbs to 200 km at 28.5º
lt5 million cost lt5 million cost
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Liquid Fuel Option Was Lowest Risk

• We considered solid, hybrid and liquid propulsion
  options.
• Solids ruled out due to very high cost of
  acquisition, limited number of vendors (captive
  customer problem) and increased cost of handling
  and storage. Low performance led to 50 increase
  in number of stages needed to attain orbit or
  reach targets downrange.
• Hybrids ruled out due to lack of flight maturity,
  relatively low performance, higher propellant
  costs than liquids and technical risk.
• Our team has significant hybrid experience, and
  has conducted over 500 hybrid tests.
• Liquid propulsion provided opportunity to meet
  cost goals through higher performance and reduced
  stage count. Also eliminated solid motor
  environmental impacts and allowed conventional
  industrial manufacturing, handling and storage
  facilities to be used.

4
Air-launched ELV Option Is Superior for FALCON

• We considered ground, air and sea-launched
  options
• Sea launch ruled out due to high infrastructure
  costs to meet surge requirements (ships or
  platforms), ocean environmental impacts and
  weather limitations.
• Ground launch ruled out due to high range costs,
  ranges impact on responsiveness, and lack of
  stealth when carrying out surge launches from
  CONUS.
• Air-launch option meets responsiveness goals,
  eliminates many environmental impacts, eliminates
  third-party liability risk, provides covertness
  and all-azimuth capability, and meets surge
  requirements without major infrastructure
  expenditures.
• We considered reusable and expendable options
• The technical risk of an RLV is too great for a
  near term effort such as FALCON.
• Phase II funding is not likely to be sufficient
  for an operational RLV development effort.
• An RLV would still likely require some expendable
  post-boost stage for velocity control of a
  separated CAV to provide flight path angle
  control and separation between the RLV and the
  CAV. This is by definition expended and has
  significant unit costs.

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Our Concept of Operations (CONOPS) Will Reflect
Accepted Military and Commercial Practices

• In operation, missile and canister are handled as
  an empty, lightweight conventional payload for
  cargo aircraft.
• Cargo aircraft is not modified.
• On alert, launch tube manages propellant thermal
  environment.
• In transit, launch tube canister is shipping
  container.
• Launch is covert, occurring over the horizon at
  sea.
• System is mobile and survivable.
• System uses existing military infrastructure.
• Air bases, current Air Mobility Command
  maintenance and logistics systems, plus flight
  crews and training are all applicable without
  significant modification or impacts on current
  operations.
• System uses existing commercial infrastructure.
• Transport via highways or rail, and standard flat
  bed tractor trailers may be used.
• Commercial tankers used.

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QuickReach Launch Scenario
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Advantages of AirLaunch Approach

• Lower Costs Higher Performance for SLV-OS
• Minimal range costs, which can be 500K to 4
  million per flight
• No range restrictions on launch azimuth caused by
  nearby population centers
• Minimal infrastructure cost for surge launches
  use temporarily assigned cargo aircraft
• Covertness achieved by flying over the horizon
  before release
• Increased performance from lower drag and
  altitude start yields 10-25 lower cost per lb
• Simplicity of Design
• No pumps (consequence of altitude start with low
  Pc engines)
• No secondary gas pressurization system fuel is
  self-pressurizing
• Single engines for each stage, no manifolding or
  plumbing issues
• Simplicity leads to higher reliability and lower
  operational costscomponents and systems that
  dont exist cant fail

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AirLaunch LLC Was Founded Specifically To
Address the FALCON Program

• is a consortium of
  expert contractors.
• Each selected to deliver specific skills needed
  to meet the FALCON goals.
• AirLaunch principals have extensive experience in
  system engineering, conceptual design, propulsion
  and program management.
• Gary C Hudson, 54 (CEO, Program Manager).
  Thirty-four years in space business,
  CEO/President of six companies, AWST Laurel for
  DC-X (1994), raised 35 million for space
  ventures. Managed 150 staff and contractors at
  most recent venture.
• Bevin McKinney, 54 (Chief Designer, FALCON Chief
  Engineer). Twenty-three years experience.
  Founder of AMROC and responsible for 500 engine
  firings, SET-1 vehicle development at WTR, and
  first privately-developed commercial launch
  vehicle (Dolphin 1983).

Bevin McKinney
Gary Hudson
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Team Airlaunch Delivers Big Prime Capabilities
Through a Consortium of Leading Specialists
INTEGRATION LAUNCH OPERATIONS
PROPULSION SYSTEM
Space Vector Corporation, Chatsworth
CA Subsidiary of Pemco Aviation Group, Birmingham
AL Missile Integration Ground Airborne Support
Equipment Telemetry Flight Termination Payload/C
AV Systems Launch Operations
Wilson Composite Technologies, Folsom CA Tank
Design Development (Stage 1/2)
Schafer Corporation Los Angeles CA Chelmsford
Massachusetts Phase I Engine Concepts
Universal Space Lines LLC Denver Newport Beach
CA Guidance, Navigation Control Flight Computer
INS Mission Planning (IDOS) Operations Support
Orion Propulsion, Huntsville Alabama Engine
Test (Phase I)
Coleman Aerospace Boca Raton Florida Airborne
Launch Control Equipment Launch
Console Operations Support
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Summary of AirLaunch Approach

• Air Launch Delivers Low Costs, High Performance
• Minimal or no range costs or range restrictions
  on launch azimuth
• Uses existing aircraft without modifications
• Covert salvo launches by flying over the horizon
  before release
• More than the FALCON payload goal for less than
  the price target
• Modest development cost to scale up to 4,000
  10,000 lbs to LEO
• Technology applicable to future heavy lift ground
  launched vehicles

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AirLaunch Contact Information

• Program Manager Gary Hudson, 415-307-7335,
• gary.hudson_at_AirLaunchLLC.com
• Chief Engineer Bevin McKinney, 253-851-0218,
• bevin.mckinney_at_AirLaunchLLC.com
• Chief Marketer David Gump, 703-623-9616,
• david.gump_at_AirLaunchLLC.com