Status Update on AirLaunch’s QuickReach Small Launch Vehicle
- Paper number
IAC-07-D2.4.09
- Author
Mrs. Debra Facktor Lepore, AirLaunch LLC, United States
- Year
2007
- Abstract
AirLaunch LLC has made steady and impressive progress over the past three years in design and development of the QuickReach Small Launch Vehicle. QuickReach is carried inside of and launched from a C17A or other large cargo aircraft. It is designed to meet the needs of the DARPA and US Air Force Falcon SLV program to deliver 1000 pounds to Low Earth Orbit for five million US dollars per flight with less than 24 hours response time. This performance and price category is of particular interest to the small satellite community. AirLaunch has accomplished significant milestones in the development of the QuickReach SLV to date, including building and testing of engine and payload fairing hardware, conducting engine test fires, analyzing the vapor pressurization propulsion system, establishing a comprehensive safety program using standard processes, proving its Gravity Air Launch methodology through successful drop tests from the C17 cargo aircraft, and completing the Incremental Critical Design Review. Additional testing and continuation of the safety approval process is planned for Phase 2C. This paper gives a status update on the technical and safety progress of the QuickReach SLV and outlines the planned activities that lead to the first test flight.
- Abstract document