The Austral Launch Vehicle (ALV) is a concept for a re-usable launch vehicle first stage. It would use fly-back UAV boosters to reduce overall launch costs.
Proponents The ALV concept is being developed by Heliaq Advanced Engineering and the University of Queensland from Brisbane, Queensland (Australia).The race is still on for a reusable rocket despite the SpaceX setback, Michael Smart, The Conversation (website), 22 April 2015 Additional involvement is from the United Kingdom, France and South Africa.
System
First stage The ALV system uses between one and six boosters connected to a core. The boosters each have a V-tail system that, on launch, act as stabilising fins; during the return flight and landing, the V-tail provides directional control. After first stage separation, the boosters coast (ballistic cruise). After re-entry, at around 350 km down range, the wings deploy and the boosters manoeuvre for return flight to the launch site, using a deployable propeller driven by an engine, acting as a large UAV.
Second stage The SPARTAN Second Stage core flies on after First Stage booster separation, with the stack. The core separates and returns to the atmosphere and Earth and is not recovered.
Third stage After fairing separation, the Third Stage and Payload fly to orbit. Payload separation is as required for the mission. Third Stage deorbits and burns up on entry.
Testing Flight tests were scheduled for late in 2015. The first successful flight of the ALV was completed on 23 December 2015.
Associated projects University of Queensland's SPARTAN-1 scramjet project
See also
Australian Space Agency
References
A. Schutte, P. Thoreau, "The Austral Launch Vehicle: 2014 Progress in Reducing Space Transportation Cost through Reusability, Modularity and Simplicity" Proceedings of the 12th Reinventing Space Conference, Springer Nature
External links University of Queensland - Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology Professor Michael Smart Heliaq Advanced Engineering