Alexander Taits: Modern Rocket Extraordinaire

August 5, 2009

Alexander Taits works at CDI Corporation consulting GE Nuclear as a Structural Analyst. Since 2006 he has also worked at Motorola R&D where his jobs included designing prototypes in CAD (Pro-E Wildfire) and rapid prototyping using the latest Stereo-lithography technology, among others. In his current role, Alex generates finite elements models (HyperMesh) of various nuclear power plant core components and performs various analyses (ANSYS). These duties combine with his special interest in advanced spacecraft propulsion to allow the conception of most intriguing rocket designs.

Originally born in the USSR, Alex relocated to Israel at the age of three. Eight years later Alex moved to Florida where he currently lives in West Palm Beach. Currently, he is working on his Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering with emphasis on Engineering Design at the Viterbi School via Distance Education Network. When not working, Alex likes to play bass guitar, attend kickboxing classes and the occasional clubbing.

Alex spent some time with us during his most recent trip in Los Angeles and told us more about his work.

Help us understand what you are up to.
Since the summer of 2008 I have been researching on improving the efficiency of modern rockets by augmenting an air-breathing cycle through various ways. The first stage of all rockets carries its own oxidizer which it primarily burns whilst flying through an air-rich atmosphere. My work focuses on how to burn this air instead of liquid oxygen and hence significantly increase the payload capacity.

The current design accomplishes this task by augmenting standard launch vehicles with an air-breathing zero-stage dubbed AirBooster. The AirBooster in essence is a fuel tank surrounded by afterburning hybrid turbofan/ramjet engines capable of reaching velocity of Mach 3.2 (P&W J58 for instance). The AirBooster attaches below a launch vehicle with a specially made inter-stage and jettisons from the main vehicle upon burn-out (at an approximate altitude of 8km). As the rocket continues in its normal regime, the AirBooster deploys several parachutes to slow down and land on water where it stays afloat via airbags. With the added boost a significant portion of fuel in the second stage of the main rocket will remain un-burnt upon reaching the required orbit. The un-burnt fuel mass translates into additional payload mass. Theory predicts such boost would double the payload capacity with minimal modifications to the launch vehicle and consequently, instead of two flights, only one is required.

What drives you to continue pursuing this area of study?
Firm belief that modern rocket systems are highly inefficient and that through specific technological improvements (such as utilizing atmospheric air during ascent) single stage to orbit flights will one day become a reality.

Describe how your work may impact people's lives now and in the future.
The price per kilogram of weight delivered to orbit is very high ($10,000/kg on average). Since the AirBooster allows more weight to be delivered to orbit on the same flight this price will eventually start decreasing. As that happens, access to space will become available for everyone, not just the millionaires. This means ordinary scientists, students, and tourists will all be able to enjoy our civilizations next frontier – space.

How did you come up with the idea?
At first I wanted to develop a hybrid engine on a spacecraft for sub-orbital flights aimed at competition with such start-ups as XCor and Scaled Composites. The plan was to augment modified military jets with rocket cycles. After going through the mathematical analysis it turned out that I was actually dealing with a system that can use improvements for both sub-orbital and orbital flights. After looking at some of the most advanced modern launch vehicles I realized that augmentation of air-breathing cycles is a largely unexplored area in rocket science.

The atmosphere surrounding our planet gets exponentially denser as one gets closer to the surface. Relative to the empty vacuum of space, the thick layer of air resembles an ocean covering earth in its entirety. Vacuum optimized rockets are most efficient when moving at high velocity. Hence a vehicle leaving the surface should first “swim” out of the dense atmosphere and then engage its rocket thrusters. The AirBooster accomplishes this very task by utilizing its powerful turbofans to propel the launch vehicle through the air and on into the vacuum of space.

Has anyone ever doubted that your idea could work?
Yes. Everybody who I have contacted in regards to this idea has doubted me. At first it was my father (Ph.D. in Physics) who has greatly doubted my work but I eventually made a believer out of him. In the Fall 2008 semester I have contacted multitude of professors in USC and was forwarded back and forth until I got a response from a head in the Mechanical Engineering department. I sent the professor much of my work and responded to all of his questions, unfortunately, he had to “let me go” due to extensive skepticism. In the Spring 2009 semester I was enrolled in the Spacecraft Design course where I contacted the instructor only to be forwarded to more people.

What is the next step in the innovation process for you?
The next step is acquiring initial funds for this project. I have written a preliminary business plan and am seeking potential investors. As mentioned, I have devised full system architecture. Upon acquiring funds, a team of engineers will be assembled to begin work on design specifications, computer aided simulations, and several scaled technology demonstrators.

What mistake taught you the most?
Doubting myself is the largest mistake I have encountered. I realized that for other people to be confident in my work the most important thing is for me to be confident in it. And for me to be confident in my work, I have to self-criticize the work until it meets my standards and I am no longer in doubt.

What is the one innovation your can't live without?
Automobile.

What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I play Bass Guitar.

How did you come up with the name for your company/organization?
The name “AirBooster” came to me upon figuring out of the easiest way to enter my technology into the market. In order to not modify modern rockets, the device had to come in the form of a stage, or a “booster”. But since this is no ordinary booster and relies on atmospheric air as the oxidizing agent – AirBooster was the natural name.

What do you wish you would have invented?
I always thought it would be cool if I was born at the age when steam power was developing. Back then an inventor would be a mechanic, physicist, and an engineer and I would have gladly tried to invent the first steam engine to be used in a locomotive.

Any tips for aspiring innovators?
Ask yourself what specific area needs innovation, then look at how people have been innovating similar areas and apply it. Most importantly, do not let others bring you down no matter how fictitious your innovation is – after all, De’Vinci did invent the helicopter a couple of hundred years before the first one was built.

Email or phone?
Phone.

What is the most fun you’ve ever had?
Sky-diving.

Three favorite things about LA:
1- Nightlife
2- Surfing the pacific
3- Center of modern rocket technology