(Credits: Blue
Origin)
Blue Origin's Goddard prototype VTOL vehicle
returns to the
hangar after a test flight in November 2006.
The table below provides brief descriptions
of a SUBSET of fully and partially
reusable launch and space vehicles (RLSV) projects,
present and past. The table will be updated and
modified periodically as projects come and go.
This list
mostly includes vehicle projects that seem to
be active to some degree. (Active can mean hardware
development at least on the prototype level, announcements
of funding, etc.) Emphasis is on vehicles that
intend to pursue commercial markets such as space
tourism, science/education payloads, high altitude
imaging,etc.
Note: here the term reusable
space vehicle refers to a vehicle,
crewed or not, that is released in space from,
for example, a shuttle or launched on top of an
expendable and then operates in space. When it
is fiinished, it will de-orbit, return to earth,
and be launched again for another mission. For
example, the space station crew rescue vehicle
(CTV), for which the X-38 is a prototype, would
fall in this category. The table focuses on private
development but mentions NASA/Military projects
and some government projects outside the US near
the end.
Air
launched from White Knight 2. Two pilots + 6 passenger
vehicle intended for commercial space tourism.
Passengers
pay $200k each.
$100M provided by Virgin Galactic. WK2 roll out
& test flights in summer 2008. SS2 roll out
and test flights in 2009, passenger flights in
late 2009 or early 2010 timeframe. Links
Several in development:
* Quad
- used for Lunar Lander Challenge 2006
* Modular -
used in 2007 LLC
Single stage, vertical
takeoff and landing designs using in house designed
liquid fueled engines. Combine modules to achieve
higher altitudes and larger payloads.
Early designs will be unmanned,
small payload, working up to manned versions. Very
low cost.
Prototype flights underway. Modular flights to
high altitudes in 2008. Updates Links
Suborbital, booster stage
+ crew capsule, vertical takeoff and landing with
hydrogen peroxide/kerosene engines, with powered
landing. (Goddard uses peroxide only.)
See summary
of Enviro. Impact Report.)
3 or more passenger to
100km, up to 52 flights per year.
Goddard flew for first
time in November 2006. 2 more untethered flights
in 2007. New prototype under construction. Company
intends for a series of prototypes leading to commercial
vehicle flying in 2010. Links
Based on the NASA FDL-7
hypersonic glider concept.
Launched atop a cluster of boosters derived from
the Canadian Arrow rockets.
8 passengers
No info on price
Lost bid for COTS Phase
1 contract. Will pursue COTS Phase 2 in 2010.
Raising $150M.
Spaceports in Nova Scotia and Ohio in discussion.
Suborbital flights mid-2009,
orbital flight Dec. 09 Links
Reusable CXV capsule on
air launched 2-stage expendable booster derived
from the Quickreach.
Larger carrier craft would need to be developed.
4 passengers to LEO. Could
return 8 passengers from ISS in emergency.
Lost bid for COTS Phase
1. Will pursue COTS Phase 2 in 2010. The unmanned
Quickreach at AirLaunch
LLC is proceeding under a DARPA grant. Experience
with air launch will be gained from SS2/WK2 project.
Links
2-stage.
First stage winged vehicle takesoff under turbo-fan
power. Rendezvous with tanker to load LOX. Then
fires rocket to 150km where it releases expendable
2nd stage for taking payload to orbit.
Dropped
in favor of Rocketplane XP design for suborbital,
Kistler K-1 for orbital.
Reusable Orion capsule
launched on a two stage Ares 1. First stage uses
version of Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster so it may
be recoverable
Can be used to take a
crew to ISS. Eventually Orion will link up with
lunar modues launched with Ares
5 for travel to the Moon.
Contractors for Ares 1
first stage (ATK) and for Orion (Lockheed-Martin)
were selected in 2006. Contractor for 2nd stage
will be selected in 2007. First crew flights in
2014 time frame.
See Ares
1 and Orion
links.
Reusable
1-stage sub-orbital. Dropped from carrier plane.
Mach 8, altitudes of 250,000 feet.
Fast turnaround,
low costs.
~24 flights in 12months
Canceled
after cost growth due to significant late hardware
changes. These came after the Mars Lander failure
led to review of all major NASA programs. Also,
NASA failed to deliver the Fastrac
engine. Ref
Low
altitude vehicle intended to test low cost reusable
technologies and operations.
Project
of ISAS,
the smaller of the two Japanese space agencies.
The Japan Rocket Society also is assisting with
the project. No flights since 2003. Links
Low altitude vehicle
that tested low cost reusable technologies and operations.
Started as a project
in the Missile Defense program. After 5 flights
transferred to NASA. Demonstrated that a liquid
fueled rocket vehicle could be flown by a small
team and turned around between flights in 26 hours.
All goals met but vehicle later lost when leg failed
to deploy on landing.
Reusable rocketplane dropped
from B-52 during late 1950s through 1960s.
Provide data on how to deal with transition
from atmosphere to near vaccum region and with
the high temperatures on reentry
Very successful program.
Nearly 100 flights made over a decade. Big influence
on the X-20
Dynasoar program and later the shuttle.
See links
for further info.
