According to Izvestia, engineers at the Bauman Moscow State Technical University are creating a drone with a combined propulsion system. It is assumed that such a device, which does not require special sites or test sites, will reduce the cost of launching ultra-small rockets to study the atmosphere and the Earth’s surface.
The launch of the UAV is supposed to be carried out using a catapult. Then the power plant of two electric motors with pusher propellers in the rear of the fuselage comes into action, and to give the UAV additional acceleration just before the launch of the rocket, a solid-propellant rocket booster is provided in the center. The landing of the drone will be carried out using a parachute.
A 1.5 kg missile is supposed to be placed at the bottom of the UAV fuselage on an external sling, and it will also receive a parachute for landing. Such a rocket will be able to carry about 100 grams of payload. For example, with its help it will be possible to start the camera.
“The rocket, depending on its onboard “stuffing”, can actually perform the entire range of tasks of low-flying satellites in a short period of time, whether it is collecting information about the state of the atmosphere or shooting with high accuracy for various purposes. Along with the missiles declared in the project, radiosondes and small spacecraft can act as a payload, depending on the target launch height of the UAV“, – explained the doctoral student of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution “Expert Analytical Center” Maria Barkova.
At the moment, engineers are creating a prototype drone. It is expected that it will rise into the air in the spring of this year.
