TOP > Report & Column > The Forefront of Space Science > 2013 > A Reusable Sounding Rocket to Innovate Sounding Rocket Experiments

| 1 | 2 | 3 | Future space-transportation systems and contribution to the hydrogen society I believe that the ultimate goal for future space-transportation systems is frequent access to space. This will be realized by developing a single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) vehicle, i.e., a single-stage to carry passengers and cargo to earth orbit, and by operating it every day or multiple times a day. An indispensable element to realize this is a high-performance propulsion system based on liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. The acquisition of technologies to handle cryogenic liquid propellant for reusable rocket systems is vital for building future space-transportation systems. The realization of reusable sounding vehicles will open the way to the acquisition of these indispensable technologies common to future high-performance, space-transportation systems. In addition, producing a reusable space system and putting it into practical use as a sounding rocket will help global society understand the merit of “reuse,�Ewhich encourages our research towards the next step. The study of hydrogen-propelled rockets has many issues that can be shared with global energy and environmental efforts. A clean energy cycle and production/storage/safeguard of hydrogen are all related to building an infrastructure for the hydrogen energy society. R&D of the reusable sounding vehicle leads to the solution of hydrogen technological issues. I believe that, through the technological innovations brought by handling hydrogen under the extreme environment of a rocket, and the spinning off of these innovations into building an infrastructure for the hydrogen-energy society, we are linked to society and can contribute to its progress. Figure 1. Wind tunnel tests to determine fuselage shape The environment of the rocket’s flight is simulated, using the air current produced in a wind tunnel, and the rocket’s shape is studied based on the measured aerodynamic force against fuselage. Figure 2. Visualization test of liquid hydrogen/nitrogen sloshing Liquid propellant behavior and changes of pressure and temperature in the tank during the flight are studied. Figure 3. Ideal picture of future space-transportation systems Rockets carrying passengers and cargo leave the spaceport in succession bound for space�E (Satoshi NONAKA) | 1 | 2 | 3 |

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