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Northrop Grumman has unveiled its vertical-launch, horizontal-landing reusable booster design for the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency’s (Darpa) XS-1 experimental spaceplane program.
Northrop, teamed with subsidiary Scaled Composites and Virgin Galactic, is working under a 13-month, $3.9 million Phase 1 preliminary-design contract, awarded in July. Contracts also went to Boeing with Blue Origin, and Masten Space Systems with XCOR Aerospace.
Northrop’s unmanned spaceplane is launched vertically from a transporter/erector/launcher, in a "clean pad"-operation with minimum infrastructure and ground crew. The spaceplane is designed for highly autonomous flight operations, the company says.
Northrop Grumman with Scaled Composites and Virgin Galactic is developing a preliminary design and flight demonstration plan for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's (DARPA) Experimental Spaceplane XS-1 program.
XS-1has a reusable booster that when coupled with an expendable upper stage provides affordable, available and responsive space lift for 3,000-pound class spacecraft into low Earth orbit.
originally posted by: Brotherman
a reply to: Zaphod58
I do realize that DARPA does do alot and I wasn't trying to elude to putting weapons into space per se I was just always under the impression that using aircraft like this is inefficient. What will this one do that the last shuttle design could not do?
originally posted by: Brotherman
a reply to: Zaphod58
I do realize that DARPA does do alot and I wasn't trying to elude to putting weapons into space per se I was just always under the impression that using aircraft like this is inefficient. What will this one do that the last shuttle design could not do?
originally posted by: pikestaff
'They' all want to get their designs up and running before the Brits come along with their space plane with a 15 ton payload and turn around time of a Boeing 747, there is panic in the air, thick enough to cut with a knife.
originally posted by: Brotherman
a reply to: Zaphod58
What would be the purpose of this craft? I mean I understand that they can haul equipment into space but is that it? I mean besides bringing people and things into outer space what kind of mission will this have? It is being funded by DARPA the thought of militarizing space is scary reminds me of ODIN from a Call of Duty game when I think about it.
originally posted by: Brotherman
a reply to: butcherguy
Does everyone in PA hate cats lol jk
That is pretty cool about the new shuttle, I don't know much about the shuttle or this new design, I only recently got interested in space craft after being given a box of nasa reel to reels awhile back from Goddard Space Center.
originally posted by: Brotherman
a reply to: Zaphod58
What would be the purpose of this craft? I mean I understand that they can haul equipment into space but is that it?