CARGO SHIP LAUNCH-LANDING PLATFORM FEASIBILITY STUDY  1997-1998

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PROJECT FOR ROTARY ROCKET COMPANY

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This feasibility study examined the potential conversion of a bulk cargo carrier and container transporter into a launch and landing vessel for a privately developed launch vehicle named the ROTON. The ROTON was to be a crewed, fully reusable spacecraft of single-stage-to-orbit design that launched like a rocket and landed like a helicopter. Its primary market was the launch of commercial satellites. The ship would operate from a home port and sail to international waters to perform ROTON launches and landings. Launching in international and equatorial waters offers advantages of reduced safety regulations and controls as well as a launch performance boost due to the Earth's maximum rotational velocity at the equator. The vertical launch and precision landing capability of the ROTON made the use of a ship with a large deck possible. The long flat deck (image below right) and typically six holds of a bulk cargo carrier are suitable for the purpose. Launches occur at the bow on a launch car (sketch below left) at maximum distance from the bridge and stern superstructure for safety. ROTONS are moved on deck on a launch trolley (sketch below right). ROTONS and

payloads reside in holds beneath the deck. An added top

deck contains two sets of rails, one for a mobile hangar to

transfer the payloads to the vehicles and the other to

transfer the flight-ready vehicles to the bow. A PANAMAX

CAPE size cargo ship can accommodate several ROTONS

and payloads, making multiple launches possible on a

single voyage. The ship's home port would be Long Beach

in California and the launch site in the  vicinity of the

Kiribati Islands, south of Hawaii.