Tue, Mar 14, 2006
Rocketplane Kistler May Offer ISS Flights As Soon As 2008
Aero-News has learned that Rocketplane Limited, Inc. and Kistler
Aerospace Corporation have joined forces as a new space
transportation team. This team -- to be named Rocketplane Kistler
-- is made up of two companies with histories dating back to the
start of the entrepreneurial space movement in the early
1990’s.
"Dr. George Mueller and the Kistler team have developed a mature
and technologically sound design capable of revolutionizing space
transportation," said Rocketplane President and CEO George French,
Jr. "Rocketplane Kistler has a unique chance of making commercial
space viable by reducing the cost to orbit and by building a fleet
of cargo-carrying vehicles for transport to low earth orbit, Space
Station and beyond."
The two companies will have to find a way to merge two
distinctly different vehicle structures. The Rocketplane XP Vehicle
is a four-seat fighter-sized vehicle, derived from a retired Lear
23, that is fitted with a delta wing and a V-tail (above); Kistler
Aerospace Corporation has worked to develop the more conventional,
vertical-launch K-1 fully reusable aerospace vehicle (below, right)
designed to deliver payloads to orbit and provide a low-cost
alternative to single-use launch vehicles.
Both companies stress,
however, that despite utilizing different vehicle architectures,
they share many common core technologies -- such as thermal
protection systems; liquid oxygen/kerosene rocket propulsion,
advanced integrated vehicle health management systems; and an
overall high Technical Readiness Level.
Representatives with the Rocketplane Kistler team tell ANN the
new company will work to combine the best of both systems --
suborbital spaceplanes that are optimized for near-term space
tourist and microgravity research applications, and two-stage fully
reusable vertical launch vehicles that are optimized for
International Space Station crew and cargo delivery and affordable,
responsive commercial launch services.
"When studying Kistler closer, I realized that Dr. Mueller and
his team has over the last 12 years actually been pushing the
envelope so that NASA can exit their Shuttle program by having the
K-1 replace some of their key requirements," said French. "Also,
remember Kistler has employed substantial amounts of private risk
capital that puts the K-1 $600M ahead of the next competitor for
the ISS re-supply, and the result of those efforts position
Rocketplane/Kistler for an ISS flight as early as 2008."
More News
Chaff Thin, narrow metallic reflectors of various lengths and frequency responses, used to reflect radar energy. These reflectors, when dropped from aircraft and allowed to drift d>[...]
“Today, XB-1 took flight in the same hallowed airspace where the Bell X-1 first broke the sound barrier in 1947. I’ve been looking forward to this flight since founding>[...]
“Teaming up with the EAA and Berlin Express for this event in Cincinnati will give warbird fans a unique opportunity to see the aircraft that helped defend freedom and gave t>[...]
Hazardous Weather Information Summary of significant meteorological information (SIGMET/WS), convective significant meteorological information (convective SIGMET/WST), urgent pilot>[...]
Aero Linx: The Nebraska Aeronautics Commission The Nebraska Aeronautics Commission was created by the 1935 Legislature to oversee the development of aviation in the state. The Comm>[...]