Commercial airliner

Deutsch: Verkehrsflugzeug / Español: Avión Comercial / Português: Avião Comercial / Français: Avion Commercial / Italiano: Aereo di Linea

Commercial Airliner in the space industry context refers to the use and potential adaptation of conventional passenger aircraft for space-related operations, as well as the evolving concept of airliners that can operate at the edge of space or beyond. While traditional commercial airliners are primarily designed for atmospheric flight, the space industry is exploring ways to integrate these aircraft into space logistics, high-altitude operations, and as platforms for future suborbital travel, blurring the lines between aviation and spaceflight.

Description

Commercial airliners in the space industry context primarily relate to aircraft that serve as platforms for emerging space-related technologies and operations. This includes:

1. Suborbital Space Tourism: Commercial airliners, such as the planned SpaceShipTwo from Virgin Galactic, are designed to offer suborbital flights, allowing passengers to experience a brief period of weightlessness and view Earth from space altitudes. These aircraft take off and land like conventional planes but reach altitudes at the edge of space (approximately 100 km or 62 miles above Earth).

2. Air-Launched Rockets: Commercial airliners have been adapted to serve as launch platforms for small satellites and other payloads. For example, Virgin Orbit uses a modified Boeing 747, named "Cosmic Girl," to carry and launch rockets (LauncherOne) from high altitudes, providing a flexible and cost-effective means of reaching orbit compared to traditional ground-based launches.

3. High-Altitude Long-Endurance (HALE) Missions: Certain commercial aircraft, repurposed or specifically designed for high-altitude missions, can operate in the stratosphere and serve as communication relays, Earth observation platforms, or surveillance systems. While not in space, these missions operate at altitudes where air density is low and can serve complementary roles to satellites.

4. Future Concepts of Spaceplanes: The future of commercial airliners may include spaceplanes—aircraft capable of taking off from runways, reaching low Earth orbit, and returning safely. Concepts such as the Skylon spaceplane, which is under development, aim to create a fully reusable vehicle that operates similarly to current airliners but for space missions.

5. Space-Ready Aircraft for Astronaut Training and Recovery: Commercial airliners and military aircraft are sometimes used to simulate microgravity for astronaut training, known as "vomit comet" flights, or to recover astronauts and equipment after splashdowns or landings.

Impacts and Challenges: The integration of commercial airliners into the space industry represents a shift towards more flexible, cost-effective, and accessible space operations. Challenges include the development of safe and reliable technology that can handle the extreme conditions of high-altitude and suborbital flight, as well as regulatory and safety considerations unique to these hybrid operations.

Application Areas

Commercial airliners are being explored for various applications within the space industry, including:

• Suborbital Tourism: Providing commercial passenger flights to the edge of space, allowing civilians to experience space travel and microgravity.

• Satellite Launching Platforms: Using modified airliners to launch small rockets or deploy satellites, offering a more adaptable and cost-efficient approach compared to traditional launch sites.

• High-Altitude Research: Conducting scientific experiments, Earth observation, and communications at altitudes where conventional satellites might be too costly or unnecessary.

• Space Logistics and Crew Transport: Future concepts may involve commercial airliners that support space station resupply, crew transport, or other logistics functions traditionally handled by rockets.

• Training and Simulation: Utilising airliners for astronaut training flights, simulating microgravity environments, and recovery operations post-mission.

Well-Known Examples

Notable examples of commercial airliners integrated into the space industry include:

• Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo: A commercial spaceplane designed for suborbital tourism flights. SpaceShipTwo is carried to high altitude by a mothership, WhiteKnightTwo, before igniting its rocket engine to reach the edge of space.

• Virgin Orbit’s Cosmic Girl: A modified Boeing 747 used to air-launch the LauncherOne rocket, providing a mobile and flexible satellite launch solution that can operate from a variety of locations.

• Zero-G Corporation’s G-Force One: A modified Boeing 727 that conducts parabolic flights to create brief periods of microgravity, used for astronaut training, scientific experiments, and commercial purposes.

• Stratolaunch’s Roc: Known as the world’s largest aircraft by wingspan, Stratolaunch’s Roc is designed to carry and launch rockets into space from high altitudes, aiming to offer a unique and versatile launch platform.

Treatment and Risks

Adapting commercial airliners for space industry roles involves addressing several risks and challenges:

• Safety and Reliability: Ensuring that modified airliners and spaceplanes meet the rigorous safety standards required for space operations, including handling the stresses of high-altitude and suborbital flight.

• Regulatory Challenges: Navigating the regulatory environment for aircraft that operate in near-space or carry space-bound payloads involves coordination between aviation and space authorities, such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and international regulatory bodies.

• Technical Limitations: While air-launched systems provide flexibility, they are generally limited to smaller payloads and lower orbits compared to conventional rockets, requiring careful consideration of mission requirements.

• Environmental Impact: High-altitude operations and suborbital flights have environmental implications, including potential contributions to atmospheric pollution and the need for sustainable operational practices.

Similar Terms

• Spaceplanes: Hybrid vehicles that function both as aircraft and spacecraft, capable of operating in Earth’s atmosphere and reaching space.

• Air-Launched Rockets: Rockets that are launched from aircraft at high altitudes, offering a flexible and potentially lower-cost alternative to ground-based launches.

• Suborbital Flights: Flights that reach the edge of space but do not complete an orbit around Earth, often associated with space tourism and scientific research missions.

Summary

Commercial airliners in the space industry context represent an innovative approach to expanding access to space, offering flexible launch platforms, suborbital tourism, and new possibilities for high-altitude operations. By adapting conventional aircraft for space-related roles, the industry can leverage existing technologies and infrastructure to reduce costs and increase accessibility. As the line between aviation and spaceflight continues to blur, commercial airliners are poised to play an increasingly important role in the future of space exploration and utilisation.

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