Heracles

Molniya Triplane Aircraft

Heracles Triplane and Aerospace Systems

The key characteristics of two-stage aerospace systems are determined according to speed and carrying capacity of the aircraft-carrier used . The range of specified parameters can be extremely wide. So the SPIRAL system hypersonic carrier was expected to launch the second stage by weight 63 tons at a speed corresponding to 6M; whereas launching weight of the MAKS system orbital stage with the use of the An-225 MRIYA heavy subsonic aircraft reaches 275 tons, and the HERACLES aircraft - 450 tons. The HERACLES advantages are not only covered by its extreme carrying capacity, its arrangement, namely - chosen for its two-fuselage scheme, was of a great importance. Simplifying the separation of the second stage suspension under the aircraft permits to launch the stage during a cabrage flight, whereas the carriers of the conven-tional scheme with the top arrangement of orbiter require going into the negative normal acceleration in time of launching that results in the trajectory angle losses and the increase of power expenditure for moving out The second stage launch of the HERACLES occurs with subsonic speed, however due to summation of all factors acting during the launch so the aircraft-carrier contribution in the increment of putting characteristical velocity reaches 570 m/s.

Comparing the characteristics of MAKS using various types of carriers it is possible to see that a completely reusable MAKS-M modification with integral fuel tanks at the start from Heracles can put the same payload into orbit altitude of 200 km as the MAKS-OS stage with a droppable external tank launched from the An-225 MRIYA.

The MAKS-M reusable system with the HERACLES aircraft-carrier surpasses the single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) of vertical launching carriers which are the basic variants of the USA shuttle space system (RLV) program, by its flight performance, development and manufacturing costs and economic efficiency. In particular, it has a smaller gradient of mass loss according to the orbit altitude that improves the system economic parameters. In addition, the American concept has got common shortcomings of rocket systems: limits of orbit inclination angles and necessity of building and maintenance of the expensive launching complex.

Though in order to approach the date of putting into operation the MAKS system it is necessary to use the already existing An-225 aircraft-carrier its opportunities will only be completely realized by the introduction of the HERACLES superheavy triplane in its structure. The simultaneous use of the HERACLES as a part of the extensive air transport system will allow to return a significant share of means spent on its development and manufacture.

Heracles

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Introduction	Spiral Project	Bor Experimental Space Vehicles	Buran Orbiter
Multipurpose Aerospace System (MAKS)	Supersonic Rockets-Targets	Company Details	More Details in Russian