• air-launch
• pylon
• design
• analysis

The paradigm shift in the space industry from once a public intensive one to that of a more private fostered one has disrupted the sector in a significant manner. This phenomenal shift in the nature of the overall behavior of the space industry has also opened up an infinite number of innovative solutions in reimagining the way we have so far catered to the various segments of the industry. This quest of innovation has led to the realization of this thesis, in which the launch segment of the industry has been pondered over with different possible modes (both existing as well as new). The preliminary analysis of the market has led to the conclusion that the air-to-space launch mechanism using an aircraft far exceeds the rest of the launch technologies in the payload segments suited to the needs of small payload range in particular to that of the SmallSats. The thesis successfully conducted a detailed preliminary structural analysis of the pylon based on the various assumed operational parameters. The thesis work adhered to the classical methods of design which gave a path to successive progress in relation to the structural, aerodynamic, and modal analysis of the pylon structure with the design parameters of a Boeing 747-400 as the associated aircraft. To substantiate the credibility of the results a primary fracture mechanism study has been carried out and the results characterize both the efficiency as well as the integrity of the new design in the study.