Assessing weight efficiency of carrier rockets launched from dirigibles and airplanes

A method of comparative analysis of weight efficiency of carrier rocket launches from the Earth’s surface, dirigibles, subsonic, supersonic and hypersonic airplanes is proposed. The method is based on assessing the savings in the required characteristic velocity of carrier rockets launched from dirigibles and airplanes as compared to ground launches and determining the minimal launching mass of the rocket by optimal mass redistribution among the rocket units. The method can be used at the initial stages of design.