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Volume 12
Issue 11
10.3390/aerospace12111030
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Multidisciplinary Design Optimization of a Two-Stage LOX/Methane Partially Reusable Microlauncher

by
Alexandru-Iulian Onel
*,
Tudorel-Petronel Afilipoae
,
Oana-Iuliana Popescu
,
Georgiana Ichim
and
Alexandra Popescu
INCAS—National Institute for Aerospace Research “Elie Carafoli”, B-dul Iuliu Maniu 220, 061126 Bucharest, Romania
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Aerospace 2025, 12(11), 1030; https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace12111030
Submission received: 25 September 2025 / Revised: 30 October 2025 / Accepted: 15 November 2025 / Published: 20 November 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Astronautics & Space Science)
Versions Notes

Abstract

With support from the Romanian Nucleu Program, INCAS has taken the initiative to develop a multidisciplinary optimization (MDO) environment capable of generating reusable microlauncher concepts that could be used as the first building blocks in the development and production of a locally based launch vehicle. This paper will present the main work carried out towards the accomplishment of this task, with several mathematical models being proposed to fill in the gaps associated with microlauncher reusability. Towards the end of the paper, a partially reusable microlauncher concept is proposed, which is capable of successfully accomplishing both the main mission, that of inserting a 100 kg satellite into a 400 km altitude, circular polar orbit, and the recovery mission, where the first-stage assembly (including the interstage) is recovered from a secondary location. Preliminary cost estimates are also given for the entire lifespan of the microlauncher, focusing on the economic feasibility of a reusable concept for small launch vehicles.
Keywords: multidisciplinary optimization; MDO; reusable microlauncher; preliminary design; small satellites; mass minimization; low Earth orbit; methalox multidisciplinary optimization; MDO; reusable microlauncher; preliminary design; small satellites; mass minimization; low Earth orbit; methalox

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Onel, A.-I.; Afilipoae, T.-P.; Popescu, O.-I.; Ichim, G.; Popescu, A. Multidisciplinary Design Optimization of a Two-Stage LOX/Methane Partially Reusable Microlauncher. Aerospace 2025, 12, 1030. https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace12111030

AMA Style

Onel A-I, Afilipoae T-P, Popescu O-I, Ichim G, Popescu A. Multidisciplinary Design Optimization of a Two-Stage LOX/Methane Partially Reusable Microlauncher. Aerospace. 2025; 12(11):1030. https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace12111030

Chicago/Turabian Style

Onel, Alexandru-Iulian, Tudorel-Petronel Afilipoae, Oana-Iuliana Popescu, Georgiana Ichim, and Alexandra Popescu. 2025. "Multidisciplinary Design Optimization of a Two-Stage LOX/Methane Partially Reusable Microlauncher" Aerospace 12, no. 11: 1030. https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace12111030

APA Style

Onel, A.-I., Afilipoae, T.-P., Popescu, O.-I., Ichim, G., & Popescu, A. (2025). Multidisciplinary Design Optimization of a Two-Stage LOX/Methane Partially Reusable Microlauncher. Aerospace, 12(11), 1030. https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace12111030

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