Systematic assessment of SpaceLiner passenger cabin emergency separation using multi-body simulations

The SpaceLiner ultra-high-speed rocket-propelled passenger transport is in Phase A conceptual design. The ongoing concept evolution is addressing system aspects of the next configuration release 8. The space transportation role of the SpaceLiner concept as a TSTO-launcher is further refined and suitable precursor steps with expendable upper stages are investigated. In the central part of the paper, the separation of the passenger cabin and rescue capsule and its subsystems is systematically investigated for relevant emergency conditions. The separation process is studied taking into account multi-body dynamics of the up to three vehicles. A critical assessment of the baseline procedure and potential improvements of components’ design and sequences are discussed.