5.7.1 Bloostar
Bloostar is a launch vehicle currently in development that is intended to compete in the small satellite launch market. It is based on the “rockoon” concept
in which the first stage of the ascent is achieved by the use of a high altitude
balloon up to 30 km (19 mi). There the rocket is ignited and detached from the
balloon to insert the payload into orbit. The design is intended to be capable
of delivering a 140 kg (309 lb) payload into low Earth orbit at an altitude of
200 km (124 mi), or place a 75 kg (165 lb) payload into Sun-synchronous orbit
at 600 km (373 mi).
The launch vehicle comprises a set of liquid fuel engines clustered as concentric toroids and attached to the central payload. Each toroid works as a stage during the rocket’s ascent. The stages are progressively separated from the vehicle in
a manner similar to a conventionally staged ground-launched rocket.
The design includes a total of 13 engines split across three stages, all using
liquid methane as fuel and liquid oxygen as oxidizer, together known as Methalox.
The first stage consists of the outermost toroid with six Teide 2 engines each of
which produces 15 kN (3,372 lbf) of thrust. The second stage is a smaller toroid
with six smaller Teide 1 engines, each delivering 2 kN (500 lbf) of thrust. The
third stage is at the center with a single Teide 1 engine. By utilizing propellant
cross-feed, all available engines will fire simultaneously but only the tank in the
outermost stage will be depleted each time, increasing performance. As the
Fig. 5.14 The Bloostar launch sequence. Graphic courtesy of Zero 2 Infinity
5.7 Zero 2 Infinity 109
Bloostar is a launch vehicle currently in development that is intended to compete in the small satellite launch market. It is based on the “rockoon” concept
in which the first stage of the ascent is achieved by the use of a high altitude
balloon up to 30 km (19 mi). There the rocket is ignited and detached from the
balloon to insert the payload into orbit. The design is intended to be capable
of delivering a 140 kg (309 lb) payload into low Earth orbit at an altitude of
200 km (124 mi), or place a 75 kg (165 lb) payload into Sun-synchronous orbit
at 600 km (373 mi).
The launch vehicle comprises a set of liquid fuel engines clustered as concentric toroids and attached to the central payload. Each toroid works as a stage during the rocket’s ascent. The stages are progressively separated from the vehicle in
a manner similar to a conventionally staged ground-launched rocket.
The design includes a total of 13 engines split across three stages, all using
liquid methane as fuel and liquid oxygen as oxidizer, together known as Methalox.
The first stage consists of the outermost toroid with six Teide 2 engines each of
which produces 15 kN (3,372 lbf) of thrust. The second stage is a smaller toroid
with six smaller Teide 1 engines, each delivering 2 kN (500 lbf) of thrust. The
third stage is at the center with a single Teide 1 engine. By utilizing propellant
cross-feed, all available engines will fire simultaneously but only the tank in the
outermost stage will be depleted each time, increasing performance. As the
Fig. 5.14 The Bloostar launch sequence. Graphic courtesy of Zero 2 Infinity
5.7 Zero 2 Infinity 109