Boeing wins DARPA contract for small air-launch system
Posted: Sat, Mar 29, 2014, 9:29 AM ET (1329 GMT)
Boeing this week unveiled its design for an air-launch system after winning a contract from DARPA to develop it. DARPA awarded a $30.6-million contract Monday to Boeing to develop the Air Launch Assist Space Access (ALASA) system for launching small satellites; the contracts also includes two options valued at a combined $74 million. Boeing released details of the design on Friday, which involves a rocket deployed from an F-15 aircraft that can place satellites weighing up to 45 kilograms into low Earth orbit. The rocket's unique design features engines mounted near the nose of the vehicle, allowing them to be used throughout the ascent to orbit as propellant tanks behind it are expended. That approach, the company believed, will allow it to lower launch costs by two thirds. A demonstration launch of the ALASA system is planned for fiscal year 2015. Boeing, along with Lockheed Martin and Virgin Galactic, won initial contracts from DARPA in 2012 to study their ALASA concepts.
Boeing this week unveiled its design for an air-launch system after winning a contract from DARPA to develop it. DARPA awarded a $30.6-million contract Monday to Boeing to develop the Air Launch Assist Space Access (ALASA) system for launching small satellites; the contracts also includes two options valued at a combined $74 million. Boeing released details of the design on Friday, which involves a rocket deployed from an F-15 aircraft that can place satellites weighing up to 45 kilograms into low Earth orbit. The rocket's unique design features engines mounted near the nose of the vehicle, allowing them to be used throughout the ascent to orbit as propellant tanks behind it are expended. That approach, the company believed, will allow it to lower launch costs by two thirds. A demonstration launch of the ALASA system is planned for fiscal year 2015. Boeing, along with Lockheed Martin and Virgin Galactic, won initial contracts from DARPA in 2012 to study their ALASA concepts.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Senate committee advances Isaacman nomination to lead NASA
Posted: Sun, May 4 10:23 AM ET (1423 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Friday, May 9
Starlink’s launch in India now a matter of when, not if
TechCrunch — 6:27 am ET (1027 GMT) Musk’s Starlink Edges Closer to India Launch with Government Approval
IndUS Business Journal — 6:26 am ET (1026 GMT) SPACECOM Wants to Be Dynamic in Orbit. The Question Is How
Air and Space Forces Magazine — 6:24 am ET (1024 GMT) 'Ludicrous': Why South Texas locals have beef with FAA over Starbase launches
San Antonio Express-News — 6:23 am ET (1023 GMT) Italy’s Air Force chief champions commercial satellite integration
Decode39 — 6:23 am ET (1023 GMT) |
