Responsive Access Small Cargo Affordable Launch (RASCAL ...

When the entire launch system is combined the weight breakdown follows
(Figure 38). As this figure shows even with the MMC the dry weight is still 54% of the
vehicle weight. That is important to note because over 54% weight of the system is
reusable even though only one of the four stages are reusable.
Gross Takeoff Weight
1st Dry Dry
1st Fuel
1st Oxidizer
1st H20
2nd Dry
2nd 2nd Fuel
2nd Oxidizer
3rd Dry
3rd Fuel
Payload
84,549 84,549 lb lb
45,661 45,661 lb
22,583 22,583 lb
525 lb
1,758 lb
2,178 lb
3,220 3,220 lb
6,118 6,118 lb
421 lb
2,086 lb
250 lb
2nd Fuel
4%
2nd Dry
3%
1st H20
2%
1st Oxidizer
1%
1st Fuel
27%
2nd Oxidizer 3rd Fuel
7% 3rd Dry 2%
0%
Payload
0%
Figure 38: Overall Weight Breakdown of GT RASCAL (Fourth Stage Omitted).
A final mission profile for the GT RASCAL design is also included (Figure 39).
As this figure shows the release of the second stage is at a higher altitude and a higher
velocity than the baseline. This allows the upper stage rockets to be much smaller and in
turn reduces the first stage weight further. This mission profile also shows that the GT
RASCAL design releases the payload from the bottom of the first stage. This was
decided since when the first stage drops the payload there is still over 1200 lbs of lift on
the first stage. When they payload is released it will fall faster than the first stage and
therefore will be farther away that the same payload dropped from the top of the first
stage.
48
1st Dry
54%