Status and Challenges of Reusable Launch Vehicle Recovery Technology

A reusable launch vehicle can take off vertically and horizontally, and then land vertically, horizontally, or by parachute, so as to form various combinations of takeoff and landing schemes. Aiming at the different recovery modes of reusable launch vehicle, this paper discusses the key technologies of Vertical Takeoff and Vertical Landing (VTVL), parachute recovery, and Horizontal Takeoff and Horizontal Landing (HTHL), covering key technologies for other combinations. For VTVL mode, three key technologies, such as engine throttling, multiple start-up, and landing mechanism, are analyzed in detail. For parachute recovery, the technologies relating to the landing area control of rocket jettisons and aerial recovery are introduced. For the HTHL mode based on the rocket propulsion system, five challenges including the coupling mechanism under complex aerodynamic thermal environment, thermal protection, landing mechanisms, guidance and control, are discussed. The characteristics of the three recovery modes are briefly summarized and compared.