Rocketplane unveils new XP design
Posted: Sat, Oct 27, 2007, 8:39 AM ET (1239 GMT)
Rocketplane Global revealed on Friday a new design for its XP suborbital spaceplane that the company plans to have flying in 2010. The new design eliminates the Learjet heritage that had been the previous basis for the XP in favor of a design with a larger cabin that can accommodate five passengers and a pilot. More powerful jet engines will allow the XP to fly to 12,000 meters altitude before igniting its rocket engine, about twice the altitude of the old design. Company officials said that they are currently raising an unspecified amount of money for the vehicle to fund its development, with test flights slated to begin in 2010. Rocketplane Global's parent company, Rocketplane Inc., also operates Rocketplane Kistler; that company lost a funded COTS award from NASA earlier this month that would have supported the development of a completely different orbital vehicle, the K-1.
Rocketplane Global revealed on Friday a new design for its XP suborbital spaceplane that the company plans to have flying in 2010. The new design eliminates the Learjet heritage that had been the previous basis for the XP in favor of a design with a larger cabin that can accommodate five passengers and a pilot. More powerful jet engines will allow the XP to fly to 12,000 meters altitude before igniting its rocket engine, about twice the altitude of the old design. Company officials said that they are currently raising an unspecified amount of money for the vehicle to fund its development, with test flights slated to begin in 2010. Rocketplane Global's parent company, Rocketplane Inc., also operates Rocketplane Kistler; that company lost a funded COTS award from NASA earlier this month that would have supported the development of a completely different orbital vehicle, the K-1.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Starship explodes during preparations for static-fire test
Posted: Sun, Jun 22 6:52 AM ET (1052 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Friday, July 11
Space Force developing new cloud-based digital environment for training
Defensescoop — 8:08 am ET (1208 GMT) The battle over Colorado’s Space Command isn’t over, but it may be ending soon
Washington Examiner — 8:08 am ET (1208 GMT) Rocket Lab Selects Bollinger Shipyards to Support Modification of Neutron Landing Platform
Business Wire — 8:07 am ET (1207 GMT) Elon Musk's SpaceX set to launch Israel's Dror satellite
Globes Online — 8:04 am ET (1204 GMT) South Korea secures key step toward space partnership with Europe
Chosun Ilbo — 8:03 am ET (1203 GMT) |
