Study on the hypersonic separation of the parallel configuration of the combined cycle two-stage orbit vehicle

Abstract The hypersonic vehicle is an important development direction of the future aerospace technology. An important role of this type of aircraft is as a carrier-level aircraft to send the orbit-level aircraft to a specified altitude and a specified speed and then return separately. Due to the high speed during separation, the serious aerodynamic load, and the severe wave system interference between the two aircraft, the safe separation of the aircraft is more challenging. In this paper, based on the Rocket based Combined Cycle (RBCC) two-stage orbiting carrier system, the research is conducted on the separation of the carrier based on the lift body configuration and upper stage rocket in the atmosphere at hypersonic conditions.