A composite combination for launching a payload into space including a hypersonic
spacecraft carrying the payload and a carrier aircraft, the spacecraft design to
take off from the ground on the aircraft and then, upon separation from the carrier
aircraft, to propel the payload on its own toward an assigned trajectory. The combination
further includes a separation mechanism for separating the vehicle from the aircraft,
and measuring elements for measuring physical data operative in the evaluation
of the safety of a phase of separation of the vehicle and the aircraft, which data
is evaluated by a computer component to authorize a prohibit activation of the
separation mechanism.
