AAS 97-133

AN ESTIMATION OF HAZARDS IN THE SPACE ENVIRONMENT FOR A LONG-RANGE HYPERSONIC TRANSPORT USING EXO-ATMOSPHERIC COAST

D. G. Tuckness, Jr. and T. McGaha, The University of Texas at Arlington

Abstract

This paper examines the hazards of using an exo-atmospheric coast phase for a long- range hypersonic transport aircraft. The chief hazards in the space environment are collision with space debris and radiation dosage from a transit of the Van Allen belts. The hazards are assessed for both the minimum energy ballistic trajectory and for the fractional orbit coast trajectory, and both are compared against the expected hazards of operating a high-atmospheric cruise vehicle.