• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.45 no.12
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• pp.1069-1075
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• 2017

With the recent development of space technology, the satellite market, especially the small satellite market, is growing globally. As the satellite market continues to grow, the launch vehicle market is also growing, and demand for low-cost launches is increasing. There are a number of options for low-cost launches, including development of engine that uses low-cost propellants, product and transportation cost savings, but the most effective way to reduce launch costs is to reuse the used launch vehicles. USA's Space Shuttle, a famous rocket as manned spacecraft, could be referred as the start of reusable launch vehicle. However, Space Shuttle had limited reusable parts and it was very expensive even though it is a reusable launch vehicle because of its low efficiency. In recent years, aiming at a real reusable launch vehicle, reusable launch vehicle for commercial purposes have been developed around USA's SpaceX and Blue Origin, and re-landing tests were successfully accomplished. In addition, SpaceX successfully did the re-using of first-stage launch vehicle that had been succeeded in re-landing already. In accordance with this trend, countries such as Europe and India are also concentrating on the study of reusable launch vehicles. Including Blue Origin, companies like Virgin Galactic and XCOR in the United States, are also trying to commercialize the same reusable technology as the private manned space tourism. Confirmation of these technology trends is essential, because the re-use technology could change the landscape of the global launch vehicle market.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.35-42
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• 2020

Recently the reusable launch vehicle is being a major trend in the worldwide space market, because a few commercial companies, especially SpaceX, are trying to cut down the launch price through developing and succeeding the reusable launch vehicles. However, there is still a big controversy about whether in view point of the launch cost which is more favorable between expendable and reusable. Therefore, a study and close examination is required for the launch cost in the early development phase of the reusable launch vehicle. In this study the sensitivity analysis is performed with respect to the major cost parameters which have great effects on the launch cost and price. The standard vehicle of this sensitivity analysis is the expendable vehicle having a payload 20 tons. The cost estimation relationships used in this calculation are referred from the commonly proven cost models such as TRANSCOST. The major cost parameters chosen in this study are as follows: development cost, production cost, refurbishment cost, and maximum reusable number.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.1-9
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• 2019

Recently, in the space market, there has been a rapid reduction of the launch price. The major reason is that a few commercial companies, especially SpaceX, began to enter into the space market about ten years ago, which has changed the space market from monopolization to competition, and accelerated the adoption of commercial efficiency in the technology and management. Also, the successful landing and recovery of a first stage in 2016 by SpaceX proved to be a prelude to opening a new era of reusable launch vehicles, and SpaceX declared the groundbreaking launch price through using the reusable launch vehicle. This study calculates the total launch cost required to put a certain satellite into the LEO, compares the launch cost in three cases with different payload weights, and reviews the impacts of the payload on the cost effectiveness of a reusable vehicle. The total launch cost is divided into 6 subsections cost, namely development cost, production cost, refurbishment cost, operation cost, fixed-cost of factory and launch site, and insurance cost. The cost estimation relationships used in the calculation are taken from the commonly proven cost models such as TRANSCOST.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.49 no.8
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• pp.627-636
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• 2021

This paper deals with a study for the guidance control of reusable launch vehicle. For this purpose, modeling of the equation of motion of a reusable launch vehicle with 6 degrees of freedom was performed. With this model, an optimal re-entry path was created and a path-following guidance control simulation was performed to follow the optimal re-entry path. For the design of the path-following guidance controller, the attitude controller applying a time-delay technique that is resistant to modeling uncertainty, disturbance and failure. And the nonlinear path-following guidance law were used. Guidance control simulation using a classical PD controller was performed and compared with the guidance control simulation of a reusable launch vehicle applying a time delay technique.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.138-151
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• 2018

In this study, development information and technologies for reusable launch vehicles were surveyed. We investigated the reusable launch vehicles developed in various countries and analyzed their recovery technologies. In particular, we focus on the technologies of the Falcon 9 of SpaceX and the New Shepard of Blue Origin, which have succeeded in several flight experiments. Moreover, we explain the control algorithms for each flight condition. Finally, we discuss the reusable technologies that can be applied to the Korean Space Launch Vehicle to reduce the launch cost.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.101-112
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• 2021

SpaceX shows various strategies such as constructing various payload portfolio through the reuse of Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy, constructing the launch vehicles using one type of engine, the transition from kerosene engine to methane engine, and the use of 3D printing. In this study, launch vehicle proposals that can cover a variety of payloads and trajectories from KOMPSAT to GEO-KOMPSAT were constructed, and ten launch vehicles using kerosene gas generator cycle engine, kerosene staged-combustion cycle engine, and methane staged-combustion cycle engine were reviewed. Of the ten launch vehicles, the reusable launch vehicle using a 35-ton methane engine was rated as the best in terms of development potential.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.49 no.12
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• pp.997-1010
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• 2021

This study collected and analyzed flight data of SpaceX's Falcon 9 launch vehicle. All missions were classified by orbital types, such as Polar, SSO, ISS, LEO and GTO missions. In characteristic maneuvers of main engine cutoff, boostback, reentry and landing burn at each stage of 1st stage launch vehicle, changes of the physical parameters like speed, altitude, dynamic pressure and acceleration were investigated. The guidelines derived from detailed maneuver analysis were suggested, which can be used as design and evaluation references for developing reusable launch vehicle.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.44 no.8
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• pp.686-694
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• 2016

During the Cold War, all space developments were focused on the performance only. However economy becomes more important for space development after the Cold War. There is a growing interest in reusable launch vehicle to secure the economic feasibility. In this paper, technology development prospects and direction of reusable launch vehicles and future propulsion systems of various countries are presented.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.167-170
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• 2008

A TBCC(Turbine Based Combined Cycle) engine performance design method for reusable launch vehicles flying both in subsonic and supersonic regime was proposed. The TBCC consists of turbo jet engines and ramjet engines, operating individually or together according to operation schedule. The performance scheme of turbojet and ramjet was validated and the combined engine performance of the TBCC at a typical flight condition was analyzed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.56-66
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• 2013

Weight reduction of the VTHL / TSTO type of the reusable launch vehicles using RBCC engines are investigated. To predict weight and thrust of the vehicles, equations of motion are analyzed. Analysis results are compared with specifications of existing launch vehicles for validations. For the mission of inserting 2.5 ton payload to 200 km circular orbit, the case A, which uses the RBCC engine in the 1st stage shows smaller weight than the case B, which uses the RBCC engine in the 2nd stage. The weight of the case A shows only 25.8% of a existing rocket launch vehicle's weight.