Safety assessment of framed hot launch departure for sea-based rockets in rough sea conditions

Abstract

Sea-based rocket launches encounter significant challenges stemming from dynamic marine environmental interactions. During the hot launch phase, characterized by low-velocity ascent, the departure of the rocket from the oscillatory platform exhibits heightened sensitivity to external disturbances. In the development stage, assessing the launch dynamics and the clearance between the rocket and framed launcher are crucial for improving the reliability of sea-based rocket launches in rough sea conditions. This study presents a high-fidelity dynamic model of maritime hot launch system, demonstrating 3.21% prediction error through rigorous validation against experimental datasets from comprehensive modal analyses and the full-scale rocket flight test. To mitigate collision risks, we develop a computational method employing spatial vector analysis for dynamic measurement of rocket-launcher clearance during departure. Systematic investigations reveal that in rough sea conditions, optimal departure dynamics are achieved at θ_thrust = 270° nozzle azimuth configuration, reducing failure probability compared to conventional orientations. The developed assessment framework not only resolves critical safety challenges in current sea launch systems but also establishes foundational principles for optimizing adapter axial configuration patterns in future designs.