PROJECT SUMMARY: Support for Air-Launch-To-Orbit (ALTO) Concept Investigations

SEI supported NASA in exploratory concept investigations of subsonic air-launch concepts and associated air-liquefaction technologies in hopes of identifying a low-cost, medium payload launch vehicle concept. Air-launch concepts appear to offer advantages in flexible basing, all-azimuth launch, and offset inclination launch relative to traditional ground launch options. SEI has transformed NASA's toolsets for these concept studies (trajectory, weights, and sizing) into those compatible with Phoenix Integration's ModelCenter and Analysis Server collaborative design environment. SEI also developed concept renders illustrating an ALTO concept in various modes of flight. Additionally, SEI is producing indigenously developed software modules for cost, economics, operations, and safety analysis of ALTO concepts that are compatible within the ModelCenter collaborative design environment.
More information can be found in the document archive. A press release is also avaiable. Additional images are avaiable in the gallery section of the website.