Investigation of Structure for the Hypersonic Transport System SpaceLiner

Abstract

The Space Launcher Systems Analysis group (SART) of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) has been working for several years on the SpaceLiner, a novel concept for hypersonic intercontinental travel. The SpaceLiner is currently also under investigation in the EU-funded FAST20XX study, with contributions from several partners. The present paper
\nfocuses on the structural preliminary design and summarizes the works performed so far on structural and TPS layout. A large number of load cases have been defined and will be
\ndescribed. Special attention will be paid to the detailed wing design and corresponding static- and dynamic- structural analysis. Also, integration of wing and fuselage and the
\nresulting structural-dynamic vehicle characteristics will be illuminated. A discussion concerning the preliminary TPS concept will follow. Finally, a brief outlook on some future
\nactivities will be presented.