SHARP, a first step towards a full sized Jules Verne Launcher

Conference · Sat May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1993

OSTI ID:10125664

Bertolini, L R; Hunter, J W ^[1]; Powell, J R ^[2]; Tidman, D A ^[3]

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1. Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (United States)
2. Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (United States)
3. GT-Devices, Inc., Alexandria, VA (United States)

A vital element for space exploration and utilization is the ability to affordably place large quantities of consumables and building material into low earth orbit. Calculations and supportive data indicate this can be done with a large hydrogen gas gun referred to as the Jules Verne Launcher (JVL). We present a design for the JVL based upon the concept of side injecting preheated hydrogen along a long barrel. This dramatically reduces the peak pressures in the launcher as well as the pressures and g-loads at the vehicle. The JVL has the promise of reducing payload delivery costs to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to below $500/kg. The Super High Altitude Research Project (SHARP) is a conventional two-stage hydrogen gas gun which is configured to launch 5 kg packages on suborbital trajectories. It is the first step towards the much larger Jules Verne system and will demonstrate several important features of the larger system. SHARP is currently in the middle of a series of tests aimed at its first milestone. This is to launch 5 kg at 4 km/sec horizontally. In its inclined configuration SHARP should launch vehicles to apogees in excess of 400 km and ranges in excess of 700 km.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 10125664
• Report Number(s): UCRL-JC--114041; CONF-9305233--2; ON: DE94007029
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420200
DESIGN
FACILITIES, EQUIPMENT, AND TECHNIQUES
HYDROGEN
LAUNCHING
PISTONS
PROJECTILES
PROPELLANTS
PROPULSION SYSTEMS
SATELLITES