Aerodynamics configuration conceptual design for X-38 analog lifting body transporter

Abstract The aerodynamic configuration conceptual design of a lifting body transporter is investigated. A X-38 analog lifting body transporter configuration is proposed via biconic cross section design method and Spline Lofting design process. The main body is optimized, the stabilizers and control surfaces, such as V-shape vertical tails, rudders, body flaps and elevons are designed and matched, and the aerodynamic characteristics and the control efficiency are studied. The detail research indicated that the proposed lifting body transporter has a relative high hypersonic lift to drag ratio, high trimming angle of attack and big volume utility ratio, the hypersonic stability derivatives predicted by the engineering model developed from Embedded Newtonian Flow Theory shown that the transporter is static and dynamic stable in both lateral and directional directions at high trimming angle of attack. The present work focus on the conceptual design method, the proposed X-38 analog lifting body is one of the feasible transporter choice.