In the past, the Soviet aviation industry was busy with a host of daring ideas. Projects of aerospace aircraft, alternative power plants for aviation, etc. were being worked out. Of particular interest in this context is the M-19 project developed by the V. M. Myasishchev. It was planned to combine several of the most daring ideas in it.
Threat response
In the early seventies, the Soviet leadership became convinced of the reality of the American Space Shuttle project and began to show concern. In the future, the Shuttle could become a carrier of strategic weapons, and a response was required to such a threat. In this regard, it was decided to speed up domestic projects in the field of aerospace systems.
At that time, the Experimental Machine-Building Plant (Zhukovsky), whose design bureau was headed by V. M. Myasishchev. In 1974 the plant received a new assignment. Within the framework of the "Cold-2" theme, he was supposed to determine the possibilities of creating a promising videoconferencing system with alternative power plants. In particular, the concepts of liquid hydrogen fuel engines and a nuclear power plant should have been tested. At EMZ, the new work was designated "Topic 19". The VKS project was later named M-19.
Work "19" was divided into several subprograms. Topic "19-1" provided for the development and testing of a flying laboratory with a hydrogen engine. The task of themes "19-2" and "19-3" was to search for the appearance of hypersonic and aerospace aircraft. Within the framework of "19-4" and "19-5", work was carried out on a videoconferencing system with a nuclear power plant.
The general management of the work was carried out by V. M. Myasishchev, A. D. Tokhunts, moderated by I. Z. Plyusnin. Not without the involvement of subcontractors. So, OKB N. D. joined the work on the nuclear engine. Kuznetsova.
Project theory
V. M. Myasishchev initially doubted the feasibility of the new project. He pointed out that "traditional" space rockets have a dry mass of 7-8 percent. from takeoff. For bombers, this parameter exceeds 30%. Accordingly, the VKS needs a special power plant that can compensate for the high mass of the structure and ensure the launch of the vehicle into orbit.
It took about six months to study such features of the future M-19, but EMZ specialists were still able to determine the optimal appearance and characteristics of the machine. The General Designer studied the technical proposal and approved its development. Soon a draft technical assignment appeared, and design work began.
M-19 was proposed to be built as a reusable aerospace aircraft for horizontal take-off and landing. The VKS could consistently fly into space and back, needing only some maintenance and refueling. The M-19 could become a carrier of various weapons or special military equipment, it could be used for scientific purposes, etc. Due to the large cargo compartment, the VKS was able to transport goods and people to orbit and back.
With the successful solution of all engineering problems, the M-19 could receive a nuclear power plant. Such equipment provided an almost unlimited flight range and the ability to enter any orbit. In the future, the use of the M-19 during the exploration of the moon was not ruled out.
To obtain such results, it was necessary to solve a lot of complex problems. The VKS airframe had special requirements for mechanical and thermal strength, the power plant had to develop the highest characteristics, etc. However, the calculations looked optimistic. A finished sample of the VKS M-19 could appear after 1985.
In case of new threats and challenges, simplified methods of using the M-19 were proposed. It was possible to create a "first stage videoconferencing" with a lower speed and altitude, but capable of carrying a combat or other load. In particular, it was proposed to use such an aircraft as a carrier of a rocket system for launching a load into space.
Design features
During the construction of the M-19, it was proposed to use special engineering solutions. So, the airframe should be built from light aluminum alloys, and the skin should be equipped with a reusable heat-resistant coating based on carbon or ceramics. The proposed architecture provided for the presence of large volumes inside the airframe, which made it possible to give maximum volumes for fuel.
The optimal variant of the M-19 had a "carrying body" scheme with a flat fuselage bottom and a delta wing of a large sweep. A pair of keels was placed in the tail. The fuselage of variable cross-section accommodated the crew cabin with biological shielding and the cargo compartment. The tail section was given under the elements of the combined power plant; a wide engine nacelle was provided under the bottom. It was proposed to use a jettisonable tail fairing of a rocket engine.
A combined power plant, including 10 turbojets and 10 ramjet engines, a nuclear jet engine and additional equipment, was considered optimal for the VKS. It was proposed to place the reactor in a special energy-absorbing shell capable of rescuing the core during various impacts. For maneuvering in space, a separate installation with liquid steering engines was used.
Hydrogen-fueled turbofan engines were supposed to provide take-off, ascent to 12-15 km and acceleration to M = 2, 5 … 2, 7. Then liquid hydrogen had to transfer reactor heat to heat exchangers in front of the turbofan, which made it possible to increase the thrust and double the speed. After that, it was possible to turn on the ramjet engine, and translate the turbojet engine into autorotation. Due to ramjet engines, it was proposed to accelerate to M = 16 and rise to an altitude of 50 km. The maximum total thrust of the jet engines reached 250 tf.
In this mode, the Aerospace Forces had to drop the tail fairing and turn on the sustainer NRM. The latter was responsible for heating the hydrogen before being ejected through the nozzle. The calculated thrust of the NRE reached 280-300 tf; the total thrust of the entire power plant is at least 530 tf. This made it possible to maintain the highest speed and go into orbit.
The VKS M-19 was supposed to have a length of 69 m (without a dumped fairing) and a wing span of 50 m. The takeoff weight reached 500 tons. The dry weight was 125 tons, the fuel was 220 tons. In a cargo compartment measuring 4x4x15 m, up to 40 tons could be placed load. The required runway length was 4 km.
The own crew of the M-19 included from three to seven people, depending on the task. When performing certain missions, a manned spacecraft with its crew could be placed in the cargo compartment. The reference orbit altitude was 185 km, which ensured the solution of a wide range of scientific and military tasks.
Research and development
Even before the formation of the final appearance of the Aerospace Forces "19" within the framework of the "Cold-2" theme, various research projects were launched aimed at solving a wide range of problems. Specialized institutes continued to study the issues of creating hydrogen engines, and a search for new materials with the required characteristics was carried out.
Particular attention was paid to the creation of a special combined power plant. Soviet science already had experience in creating nuclear engines, but the M-19 project required a fundamentally new product. Ready-made turbojet and ramjet engines suitable for "19" were also missing. Specialized enterprises had to develop all the elements of the power plant.
The promising VKS had to solve fundamentally new tasks, which is why it needed avionics with special functions. It was required to provide navigation in all modes, in the atmosphere and in space, as well as reaching the required trajectories and returning to the airfield. In addition, the aircraft needed specific life support equipment capable of protecting the crew from all loads and radiation from the reactor.
Various research projects continued until the early eighties. In accordance with the plan of the theme "19", in 1982-84. it was necessary to carry out detailed design of the future M-19. By 1987, three experienced VKS were supposed to appear. The first flight was attributed to 1987-88. In the early nineties, the USSR could master the full-fledged operation of a reusable aerospace system.
End of the project
However, these plans were never implemented. In the mid-seventies, the country's military and political leadership was looking for further ways to develop rocket and space technology, including in the context of a response to the Space Shuttle. The chosen strategy of actions actually canceled further work on the topic "19".
In 1976, it was decided to create the reusable Energia-Buran system. The leading role in this project was given to the newly created NGO Molniya. EMZ and some other enterprises were transferred to his jurisdiction. As a result, the design bureau of V. M. Myasishcheva lost the opportunity to fully develop the M-19 project.
Work on "Theme 19" continued for several more years, but due to the loading of EMZ by other projects, only minimal impact was given to them. In October 1978 V. M. Myasishchev passed away; a promising project was left without support. In 1980, all work on the M-19 finally stopped. By this time, related projects and research were redirected to the Energia-Buran program.
Thus, "Topic 19" / "Cold-2" did not lead to the expected results. The USSR never built an aerospace aircraft with a combined power plant and did not use it for military and scientific needs. Nevertheless, within the framework of the "19" project, various studies were carried out, which made it possible to determine the optimal ways of developing reusable space systems and find the best engineering solutions of various kinds. Research and development works from the "Theme 19" made a significant contribution to the development of domestic cosmonautics, and certain developments were ahead of their time and have not yet found application.
