military experts
EnglishРусский中文(简体)FrançaisEspañol
Set as default language
 Edit Translation

aircraft M-19 project: reusable, space, nuclear

aircraft M-19 project: reusable, space, nuclear M-19 in flight (in the artist's mind)

In the past, the Soviet aviation industry was engaged in a mass of the most daring ideas. Projects of aerospace aircraft were worked out, alternative power plants for aviation, etc.. Of particular interest in this context is the M-19 project developed by the V.M.. Myasishteva. It was planned to combine several of the most daring ideas in it..

Threat response

In the early seventies, the Soviet leadership became convinced of the reality of the American Space Shuttle project and began to show concern. In the future, the Shuttle could become a carrier of strategic weapons, and some response was required to such a threat. In this regard, it was decided to speed up domestic projects in the field of aerospace systems..

At that time, the Experimental Machine-Building Plant was involved in work on space topics. (g. Zhukovsky), The design bureau was headed by V.M.. Myasishtev. AT 1974 g. the plant received a new task. Within the framework of the "Cold-2" theme, he had to determine the possibilities of creating a promising aerospace force with alternative power plants. In particular, the concepts of liquid hydrogen fuel engines and a nuclear power plant should have been tested. At EMZ, the new work received the designation "Topic 19". The VKS project was later named M-19..

Work "19" was divided into several subprograms. Topic "19-1" included the development and testing of a flying laboratory with a hydrogen engine. The task of themes "19-2" and "19-3" was to search for the appearance of hypersonic and aerospace aircraft. Within the framework of "19-4" and "19-5", work was carried out on a videoconferencing with a nuclear power plant.

The general management of the work was carried out by V.M.. Myasishtev, A.D. became the chief designer.. Tohunts, leading - I.Z. Plus. Not without attracting subcontractors. So, OKB ND joined the work on the nuclear engine. Kuznetsova.

Project theory

VM. Myasishchev initially doubted the feasibility of a new project. He pointed out, that "traditional" space rockets have dry mass 7-8 percent. from takeoff. For bombers, this parameter exceeds 30%. Respectively, Videoconferencing needs a special power plant, which will be able to compensate for the high mass of the structure and ensure the launch of the machine into orbit.

aircraft M-19 project: reusable, space, nuclear Airplane projections

It took about six months to study such features of the future M-19, but EMZ specialists were still able to determine the optimal appearance and characteristics of the car. The General Designer studied the technical proposal and approved its development. Soon a draft technical task appeared, and the design work started.

M-19 was proposed to be built as a reusable aerospace aircraft for horizontal take-off and landing.. The VKS could consistently fly into space and back, needing only some maintenance and refueling. M-19 could become a carrier of various weapons or special military equipment, it could be used for scientific purposes, etc.. Due to the large cargo compartment, the VKS was able to transport goods and people to orbit and back.

With the successful solution of all engineering problems, the M-19 could receive a nuclear power plant. Such equipment provided an almost unlimited flight range and the ability to enter any orbit.. In the future, the use of M-19 during the exploration of the moon was not ruled out.

To obtain such results, it was required to solve a lot of complex problems. The VKS airframe had special requirements for mechanical and thermal strength, the power plant had to develop the highest characteristics, etc.. However, the calculations looked optimistic. A finished sample of the VKS M-19 could appear after 1985 g.

In case of new threats and challenges, simplified methods of using the M-19 were proposed. It was possible to create a "VKS of the first stage" with a lower speed and altitude, but capable of carrying a combat or other load. In particular, such an aircraft was proposed to be used as a carrier of a rocket system for launching a load into space.

aircraft M-19 project: reusable, space, nuclear M-19 layout

design Features

During the construction of the M-19, it was proposed to use special engineering solutions.. So, the glider should have been built from light aluminum alloys, and the cladding should be equipped with a reusable heat-resistant coating based on carbon or ceramic. The proposed architecture provided for the presence of large volumes inside the airframe, which made it possible to give maximum volumes for fuel.

The optimal variant of the M-19 had a "carrying body" scheme with a flat bottom of the fuselage and a delta wing of a large sweep. A pair of keels was placed in the tail. The fuselage of variable cross-section accommodated the crew cabin with biological shielding and the cargo compartment. The tail section was given under the elements of the combined power plant; a wide nacelle for engines was provided under the bottom. It was proposed to use a resettable rocket engine tail fairing.

The combined power plant was considered optimal for the videoconferencing, including 10 turbojets and 10 ramjet engines, nuclear jet engine and additional equipment. The reactor was proposed to be placed in a special energy-absorbing shell, capable of rescuing the core under various impacts. A separate installation with liquid steering engines was used for maneuvering in space..

Hydrogen-fueled turbofan engines were supposed to provide takeoff, climb on 12-15 km and acceleration to M = 2.5 ... 2.7. Then liquid hydrogen had to transfer the heat of the reactor to heat exchangers in front of the TRDDF, which made it possible to increase traction and double the speed. After that, you could turn on the ramjet, and translate TRDDF to autorotation. Due to ramjet engines, it was proposed to accelerate to M = 16 and rise to a height 50 km. The maximum total thrust of the jet engines reached 250 ts.

In this mode, the VKS was supposed to drop the tail fairing and turn on the sustainer YARD. The latter was responsible for heating the hydrogen before ejection through the nozzle. The calculated thrust of the NRM reached 280-300 ts; total thrust of the entire power plant - not less 530 ts. This made it possible to maintain the highest speed and go into orbit..

aircraft M-19 project: reusable, space, nuclear Power plant layout

VKS M-19 was supposed to be 69 m (without resettable fairing) and wing span 50 m. Takeoff weight has reached 500 t. Dry weight was 125 t, fuel accounted for 220 t. In a cargo compartment measuring 4x4x15 m, up to 40 t load. The required length of the runway was 4 km.

The own crew of the M-19 included from three to seven people, depending on the task. When performing certain missions, a manned spacecraft with its crew could be placed in the cargo compartment. The reference orbit height was 185 km, which ensured the solution of a wide range of scientific and military tasks.

Research and development

Even before the formation of the final appearance of the Aerospace Forces "19" within the framework of the "Cold-2" theme, various research projects were launched, aimed at solving a wide range of tasks. Specialized institutes continued to study the issues of creating hydrogen engines, we also searched for new materials with the required characteristics.

Particular attention was paid to the creation of a special combined power plant. Soviet science already had experience in creating nuclear engines., but the M-19 project required a fundamentally new product. Ready turbojet and ramjet engines, suitable for "19", also absent. Specialized enterprises had to develop all the elements of the power plant.

A promising videoconferencing system had to solve fundamentally new tasks, why I needed avionics with special functions. It was required to provide navigation in all modes, in the atmosphere and in space, as well as reaching the required trajectories and returning to the airfield. Besides, the plane needed specific life support, capable of protecting the crew from all loads and radiation of the reactor.

aircraft M-19 project: reusable, space, nuclear The principles of the combined power plant

Various research projects continued until the early eighties. In accordance with the plan of the theme "19", at 1982-84 gg. should have carried out detailed design of the future M-19. By 1987, three experienced VKS were supposed to appear. The first flight was attributed to 1987-88 gg. In the early nineties, the USSR could master the full-fledged operation of a reusable aerospace system.

End of the project

However, these plans were never implemented.. In the mid-seventies, the military and political leadership of the country was looking for further ways to develop rocket and space technology, including in the context of the answer to the Space Shuttle. The chosen strategy of actions actually canceled further work on the topic "19".

AT 1976 year it was decided to create a reusable system "Energy-Buran". The leading role in this project was given to the newly created NGO "Molniya". EMZ and some other enterprises were transferred to his jurisdiction. As a result, the design bureau V.M.. Myasishcheva lost the opportunity to fully develop the M-19 project.

Work on "Theme 19" continued for several more years, but due to the loading of the EMZ by other projects, only minimal impact was given to them. In October 1978 g. VM. Myasishchev passed away; a promising project was left without support. In 1980, all work on the M-19 finally stopped. By this time, related projects and research were redirected to the Energia-Buran program..

In this way, "Topic 19" / "Kholod-2" did not lead to expected results. The USSR never built an aerospace aircraft with a combined power plant and did not use it for military and scientific needs.. Nevertheless, within the framework of the "19" project, various studies were carried out, which made it possible to determine the optimal ways of developing reusable space systems and find the best engineering solutions of various kinds. Research and development works from the "Theme 19" have made a significant contribution to the development of domestic astronautics, and certain developments were ahead of their time and have not yet found application.

/Kirill Ryabov, topwar.ru/

A source

                          
Chat in TELEGRAM:  t.me/+9Wotlf_WTEFkYmIy

Playmarket

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 comment
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments