2010

Space Plane... .--. ..- - -. .. -.-

Cheng Yi Chiao
Chua Yi Fang
Angela Ling Wan Ching
Loi Jia En

Contents
List of figures....................................................................................................................................................................... 3
Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................................ 4
Inspiration and philosophies of our design .................................................................................................................. 5
4 Forces of flight[1] ........................................................................................................................................................... 6
Weight ............................................................................................................................................................................. 7
Lift[1]................................................................................................................................................................................ 8
Wings[1] .......................................................................................................................................................................... 9
High Aspect Straight Wing [1] ................................................................................................................................. 10
Taper Ratio[1] ............................................................................................................................................................. 11
Wing Loading[1-2] ...................................................................................................................................................... 12
Three regions of flight (relations with drag)[2] ................................................................................................... 13
Flight Path...................................................................................................................................................................... 14
Engine[3] ............................................................................................................................................................................ 15
Air cushion design[4-5] .................................................................................................................................................. 17
Materials consideration[6-7] ......................................................................................................................................... 18
References ......................................................................................................................................................................... 20
Appendix ............................................................................................................................................................................ 21

List of figures
Figure 1 Our Inspiration .................................................................................................................................................. 5
Figure 2 Four forces of flight........................................................................................................................................... 6
Figure 3 Approximation of Space plane for calculation ............................................................................................ 9
Figure 5 Different angles of attack............................................................................................................................... 10
Figure 4 Relation of Aspect Ratio, Taper Ratio and Drag ..................................................................................... 11
Figure 6 Drag vs. Mach[1].............................................................................................................................................. 13
Figure 7 Flight Path .......................................................................................................................................................... 14
Figure 8 Pratt and Whitney Cutaway Engine ............................................................................................................ 15
Figure 9 35 HP Briggs & Stratton Vanguard .............................................................................................................. 17
Figure 10 Thermal Protection System Constituent Materials, Space Shuttle Columbia ................................ 18
Figure 11 Perspective view ............................................................................................................................................ 21
Figure 12 Side View ......................................................................................................................................................... 21
Figure 13 Top View ......................................................................................................................................................... 22
Figure 14 Bottom View .................................................................................................................................................. 22
Figure 15 Front View ...................................................................................................................................................... 23
Figure 16 Rear View ........................................................................................................................................................ 23

Introduction
The main aim of the project is to design a spaceplane that can take off and land like a normal airplane in
any commercial airport and at the same time, be able to venture into space out to an altitude of 100km
from sea level.

Inspiration and philosophies of our design

The main inspiration for the design is modelled after a stingray. The shape and the contours of the fish
are the perfect streamlined design.

Figure 1 Our Inspiration

The main focus of the project was to get the weight to be as low as possible and still be able to take
flight and reach the Karman line. This was the main decision to have inflatable wings. Conventional wing
designs tend to hold fuel the aspect ratio and orientation of the wings tend to be fixed. However, for
the design we are proposing, the wings can be kept within the fuselage and used only during take off and
landing. This would allow for minimum drag at supersonic to hypersonic speeds. At the same time, the
overall weight of the spaceplane is reduced.
The second controversial design for the spaceplane is the lack of any form of landing gears. Instead, the
plane would be floated on top of an aircushion, akin to the grace of the stingray and take off.

4 Forces of flight[1]
L

Figure 2 Four forces of flight

Where
L is Lift
W is the weight
T is the Thrust
D is the Drag
Under steady flight conditions, all 4 forces will balance each other.

Weight
Weight

Quantity

Fuselage
Fuel
Compressed Air
(Air to fuel ratio take to be 14.7 to 1)

FRSI
LRSI
HRSI
RCC
Wings
Structural supports
Utilities
Turbofan Engine
Pratt and Whitney F100
Compressor Engine
35 HP Briggs & Stratton Vanguard
Passenger(s)
Payload

Sub total
25.8kg
Sub total

16 X 2 (16 per side)

825.12 kg

1.7 tonnes

65kg

Sub total
100kg
Sub total
100kg

1830kg
2
200 kg

total

Lift[1]
1

L = 2 2 S
Drag
1

D = 2 2 S
Where
L is the Lift
D is the Drag
is the lift coefficient (dimensionless)
is the drag coefficient (dimensionless)
is the atmospheric density
v is the flight speed
Coeffs
These are normally found using a wind tunnel simulation or by running a computational fluid simulation
(CFD).
=

is the reference wing chord

= f()
= f( )
= f( )
is the angle of attack

Wings[1]
Aspect Ratio
AR =

value
12
22
85
6.78

h
b
S
AR

units
m
m
2

*values are all approximted values

Figure 3 Approximation of Space plane for calculation

High Aspect Straight Wing [1]

Figure 4 Different angles of attack

a=
a=

0
1

1+

Where
a and 0 are the lift slope per radian
1 is a factor dependent on the geometric shape of the wing
The wings are chosen to be high aspect straight wings for easier calculations as well give a
greater lift. These are later collapsible at higher altitude and speeds.

10

Taper Ratio[1]

Taper Ratio =

Taper ratio

value
4
10
0.4

units
m
m

Figure 5 Relation of Aspect Ratio, Taper Ratio and Drag

Optimum at around 0.3 - 0.5

11

Wing Loading[1-2]

2
= 2
( )

where

is the wing loading (W is the weight and S is the planform area)

at sea level is 1.22505 kg /3

occurs at

= 12000/85

= 141.2 kg/ 2

12

Three regions of flight (relations with drag)[2]

Subsonic
Profile Drag =

Skin Friction Drag

Pressure Drag
,

1.328

Interference Drag
Parasite Drag
Roughness Drag
Induced Drag
Zero lift wave drag
Wave drag due to lift

=
Re = c/
is the free stream density
is the velocity coefficient
is the viscosity coefficient

Transonic
Supersonic

Pressure Drag
Wave drag =
, =

Zero lift wave drag

4 2
2 1

(Due to insufficent time the drags are not calculated)

Figure 6 Drag vs. Mach[1]

13

Wave drag due to

lift

Flight Path
Super Sonic

100km

Subsonic

20km
Figure 7 Flight Path

The flight path would follow the shape of an exponential function. The rationale for this is to
utilize maximum fuel for travelling along the vertical axis and reaching the Karman line in the
shortest possible time.
The main concerns with this is the high angle of attack that may result in a stalling condition.
This was the second factor for having inflatable wings that would be collapsible to remove
substantial amounts of drag and hopefully remove the stall condition.

14

Engine[3]
Pratt and Whitney F100
4000 Cycle 1st Inspection Core

2000 Cycle Augmentor

4000
Cycle
Fan

Engine
Diagnostic Unit
Digital Electronic Engine Control

Light Off Detector

2000 Hour Gear

Pump

Figure 8 Pratt and Whitney Cutaway Engine

The F100 was chosen as the engine of choice. This is the current jet engine that is fitted onto
F15 fighters where the weight considerations are similar to the specifications of the project.
(empty weight of 12 tonnes, loaded weight of 20 tonnes) The main concerns during the design
phase was the weight, therefore only one engine was used. Although space missions often
require redundancies in case one system fails and this is our suggested future consideration.
The engine is designed to travel from 0 to 20km. The climb from 20km to 100km would be
using the same engine as well. The intake is fitted with a vent device that can close fully and
become airtight while compressed air is pumped into the engine instead of having intake from
the atmosphere. Theoretically this should work if the rate of supply of compressed air is equal
to the rate of intake at high altitude. The basic principle behind the turbofan engine is the
exahust of gases to propel the craft forward using Newton's third law of motion.

15

General characteristics[3]
Type
Length
Diameter
Dry Weight

Value
Afterburning Turbofan
4.851
1.181
1696

Units
m
m
kg

Components
Compressor
Bypass ratio
Turbine

Axial compressor with 3 fan and 10

compressor stages
0.36:1
2 low-pressure and 2 high-pressure stages

Maximum thrust:
Value
Thrust
79.1
Thrust with afterburner
129.6
Overall Pressure Ratio
32:1
Military
Thrust
(Fuel 77.5
Consumption)
Full
Afterburner
(Fuel 197.8
Consumption)
Thrust to weight ratio
7.8:1

Units
kN
kN
77.5 kg/(kNh)
77.5 kg/(kNh)
N/kg

16

Air cushion design[4-5]

Approximate lift perimeter
Total hover gap area
Total cushion area
Cushion pressure
Expected actual air velocity
Lift air volume
Estimated lift engine power
Estimated fan diameter

value
84
2.52
404.9
290.6
14.3
35.9
23
2.5

units
m

Pa
m/ s
3 /s
hp
m

(multiple smaller fan blades can be used to replace the 2.5m fan)

Choice of engine

Figure 9 35 HP Briggs & Stratton Vanguard

Number of cylinders
Bore X Stroke
Displacement
Horsepower
HP @3600rpm (continuous)
Torque
Dry Weight
Direction of rotation
Lubricating System
Engine Oil Capacity

Value
Units
3
72 X 78
Mm
952
Cc
34
28
56.2
72
Kg
Clockwise
Pressure feed with spin on oil
filter
3.3
Liter

17

2
2

Materials consideration[6-7]
Area
FRSI
Felt Reusuable Surface Insulation
Main upper areas of fuselage
AFRSI
Advanced Flexible Reusable Surface Main impact areas of fuselage
Insulation Tiles

Density
144 kg/3
192 kg/3

(Replace LRSI, higher height resistance and lower weight)

HRSI
High TemperatureReusuable Surface Lower surface
Insulation Tiles
RCC
Reinforced Carbon Carbon
Nose
Lining

352 kg/3
1986 kg/3

Figure 10 Thermal Protection System Constituent Materials, Space Shuttle Columbia

18

Spaceplane Part
Cockpit
Windscreen
Wing
Structural Supports

Material

Density

fused silica glass

2.23g/3

silicon carbide
boron carbide

3.21g/cm3
2.52 g/cm3

(the structural supports will be a mix of the two materials)

19

References
1
Anderson, J.D.: Aircraft performance and design (WCB/McGraw-Hill, 1999. 1999)
2
Hnecke, K., and Naval Institute Press.: Modern combat aircraft design (Naval Institute Press,
1987. 1987)
3
Pratt and Whitney F100
4
Yun, L., and Bliault, A.: Theory and design of air cushion craft (Arnold ;
Wiley, 2000. 2000)
5
Jane's surface skimmers, in Editor (Ed.)^(Eds.): Book Jane's surface skimmers (Janes's Publishing
Co., edn.), pp. v.
6
Space Shuttle thermal protection system
7
Space Shuttle thermal protection system NASA

20

Appendix

Figure 11 Perspective view

Figure 12 Side View

21

Figure 13 Top View

Figure 14 Bottom View

22

Figure 15 Front View

Figure 16 Rear View

23

Exhaust fully open

Exhaust fully closed

24

Side view of Structural support of wings

Perspective view of structural support of wings

25

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