Blackstar - secret 2-stage spaceplane system

Aviation Week has posted a lengthy article about a highly secret orbital space transport program that has developed and flown a two-stage orbiter over the past decade or two but is now being shutdown: Two-Stage-to-Orbit 'Blackstar' System Shelved at Groom Lake? - Aviation Week - Mar.5.06

Considerable evidence supports the existence of such a highly classified system, and top Pentagon officials have hinted that it's "out there," but iron-clad confirmation that meets AW&ST standards has remained elusive. Now facing the possibility that this innovative "Blackstar" system may have been shelved, we elected to share what we've learned about it with our readers, rather than let an intriguing technological breakthrough vanish into "black world" history, known to only a few insiders.

Seems farfetched but they provide lots of details and eye-witness accounts:

On Oct. 4, 1998, the carrier aircraft was spotted flying over Salt Lake City at about 2:35 p.m. local time. James Petty, the president of JP Rocket Engine Co., saw a small, highly swept-winged vehicle nestled under the belly of the XB-70-like aircraft. The vehicle appeared to be climbing slowly on a west-southwest heading. The sky was clear enough to see both vehicles' leading edges, which Petty described as a dark gray or black color.

Posted 03/05/06 | 16:40:40 by TopSpacer | Filed under: Military Space

Comments

But... I don't get it. Didn't we just rearrange the space program around the supposed _FACT_ that reusable space transports aren't really possible?

If they had a system like this, why did they go scooting off into another direction completely for X-33?

Posted by Phil Fraering at 03/05/06 16:54:30

Well, Russia and China and India and Europe -- all our potential technological adversaries -- have all organized their space programs around that same established "fact" -- that cheap, reusable space transport is impossible. If nothing else, the X-33 debacle could have served as a convenient way of reinforcing this "fact". One of the more cost-effective ways of denying the enemy the high ground, actually: convince them that *nobody* can actually get to it...

Alright, so that's a paranoid conspiracy theory. But still, the X-33 program was so badly concieved that I've always vaguely suspected some darker purpose behind it. Even without the "Blackstar", it had occured to me that existing US launch providers had many billions of dollars worth of launch contracts riding on the perception that access to space couldn't *possibly* be made any cheaper. Thus, they were direct beneficiaries of the X-33 program's built-in-from-the-start failure. It hadn't occured to me that there could be other beneficiaries as well.

It'll be interesting to see what more comes out of this...

Posted by Nathan Koren at 03/05/06 17:32:01

I want to know more about thet boronated toothpaste propellant.

Posted by Mike Puckett at 03/05/06 18:41:24

As they say here in Texas, I'm on this story like ugly on a toad, and have collected a lot of critical comments (and a few supportive -- unfortunately, mostly from UFO nuts). Any substantive technical issues, please share them either here -- or if private, to my email at jameseoberg@houston.rr.com. Thanks!
JimO (http://www.jamesoberg.com)

Posted by Jim Oberg at 03/05/06 21:50:19

I knew it!

Posted by anonymous coward at 03/05/06 22:25:43

I have a question.

What advantage would an aerospike engine be on a vehicle dropped at 90,000 feet? Could you not simply optimize the engine for vaccum performance? The only advantages I can see for the aerospike is it might weigh less and no large expansion nozzle to shield on reentry.

Posted by Mike Puckett at 03/06/06 07:32:55

On the SLC 'sighting' I'd note that I've actually 'heard' that one before. It's 'less' than accurate in that the sighting was 'actually' farther west. The aircraft has (supposedly mind) been seen both in the air and on the ground around the 'auxilary' airfield at Toole Army Depot. (Nearer Wendover Utah/Nevada) "Rumor" has it that the site is also used for advanced RCS (Radar Cross Section)testing, and the idea is the aircraft may have been there for that purpose.
(The other speculation being an inflight problem which caused and abort to that field.)

Anyway, thought I'd pass it on for what it's worth.

Randy

Posted by Randy at 03/06/06 18:39:12

In the early 90's AvWeek had a black project issue, the one that fascinates me is the "pumpkin seed". It was supposed to be a craft that was an inside-out ram jet, burned fuel on the aft part of the fuselage for propulsion!

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