NanoLauncher: An Affordable and Dedicated Air-Launch Transportation Service for Nanosatellites

The NanoLauncher is an air-launch orbital/suborbital delivery service designed to use mostly existing solid rocket stages coupled with an existing aircraft. It consists of two main service lines: the NanoLauncher Black orbital, and NanoLauncher Blue suborbital launch services. The air-launch method for launching the rockets stages is advantageous for azimuth flexibility, range flexibility, and cost reduction. The system will utilize the SpaceSpike-1 and SpaceSpike-2 rocket stages, which are composed of current ISAS/JAXA S-520 and SS-520 solid motors with potentially new upperstage segments. A notional NanoLauncher Blue concept design for this service utilizing an F-15D + SpaceSpike-1 combination yields tens of minutes of time above 100 km for tens of kilograms of payload for various release conditions. A notional NanoLauncher Black concept design for this service utilizing an SU-27 + SpaceSpike-2 combination yields approximately 20 kilograms of payload to Low Earth Orbit. Final aircraft and rocket combinations are still under assessment. Technology development is currently ongoing within Japan for rocket stage development and testing, and avionics technology maturation. By leveraging existing systems, the NanoLauncher design approach reduces system development cost. International partnerships are also beneficial to the development strategy by drawing from specialized expertise, distributing risk, and leveraging global marketing efforts.