The XP Spaceplane as a Reusable First Stage for an Affordable and Responsive Microsatellite Launch System
- Paper number
IAC-08.B4.5.9
- Author
Mr. Charles Lauer, Rocketplane Global, Inc., United States
- Coauthor
Mr. Tad Theno, Rocketplane Global, Inc., United States
- Coauthor
Mr. David Faulkner, Rocketplane Global, Inc., United States
- Coauthor
Ms. Misuzu Onuki, Space Frontier Foundation, Japan
- Year
2008
- Abstract
Rocketplane Global (RpG) is one of the leading new suborbital spaceplane development and operations companies, based in Oklahoma City, OK. The XP spaceplane is a horizontal takeoff and landing vehicle which uses conventional afterburning turbojets for takeoff and landing operations and a LOX / kerosene rocket engine for the ascent to space. The home base for RpG is the Oklahoma Spaceport, which has been developed by the Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority (OSIDA) from a former USAF B-52 Strategic Air Command base in western Oklahoma. RpG has also initiated a collaboration with the Hokkaido Aerospace Science Technology Incubation Center (HASTIC) for development of a secondary spaceport in Hokkaido Japan in the Tokachi District. The payload capacity of up to 2,000 lbs. can also be allocated to an external payload, which is carried on a centerline pylon similar to an auxiliary fuel tank on a fighter plane. This payload could either be fixed in place for carrying remote sensing instrumentation or astronomical observation equipment, or an expendable upper stage assembly carrying a microsatellite to low Earth orbit. In this configuration, a single microsatellite of 25 to 50 kg can be affordably launched as an independent payload, rather than as a secondary payload on a larger vehicle as in now done. Using conventional solid rocket motors such as the STAR 20 in single or multiple stacks, a small satellite can be carried all the way to low Earth orbit. Performance upgrades with liquid fuel upper stage assemblies are possible. Once such upgrad is the CAMUI LOX hybrid rocket now being developed in Hokkaido. This paper will describe the operations, flight profile and cost structure for affordable microsatellite launch from the XP spaceplane.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-08.B4.5.9.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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