A Hybrid Launch System for Affordable Independent Microsatellite Launch

Paper number

IAC-06-B5.5.09

Author

Mr. Charles Lauer, Rocketplane Ltd., United States

Year

2006

Abstract

Rocketplane Ltd. has entered into an innovative international collaboration with the Hokkaido Aerospace and Science Technology Incubation Center (HASTIC) to develop a launch system for independent launch of satellites ranging from 10 kg to 50 kg in mass.  The XP spaceplane developed by Rocketplane Ltd. in Oklahoma will be configured with an external payload accommodations rail and will carry a high performance two stage expendable rocket with the satellite payload as its upper stage. This rocket, called CAMUI, is being developed by HASTIC in Japam

The XP spaceplane will fly a suborbital trajectory to a 100 km altitude where the CAMUI rocket will be gently released in a zero G / zero Q environment.  The rocket will then ignite and take the payload to orbit.

Existing and future markets for this new class of launch services will be discussed.

Abstract document

IAC-06-B5.5.09.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-06-B5.5.09.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.