DOCSLIB.ORG

DFW Aerospace Defense Forum XCOR CORP December 2015

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
DFW Aerospace Defense Forum XCOR CORP December 2015 The Aerospace & Defense Forum Dallas/Ft. Worth Chapter December 10, 2015 The image cannot be displayed. Your computer may not have enough memory to open the image, or the image may have been corrupted. Restart your computer, and then open the file again. If the red x still appears, you may have to delete the image and then insert it again. DFW Aerospace Defense Forum XCOR CORP December 2015 MARKET OVERVIEW 1 The Aerospace & Defense Forum Dallas/Ft. Worth Chapter December 10, 2015 HISTORY OF THE SPACE MARKET Early space market government driven • Missions were limited to government priorities Traditional Aerospace • Frequency was driven by single customer (government) High cost infrastructure with few customers, low launch • Cost a non issue rate, high cost per flight Applications Technology was determined by government (Missions) • Type of missions, launch and frequency • Disposable launch • Vertical launch and limited recovery Platform (Launch vehicles) High cost mission programs • Reusability impossible Infrastructure (Regulatory, Launch pads, etc.) Market Limiting due to cost, safety, capabilities and availability CURRENT/NEAR TERM MARKET FOR SPACE Current generation technology is focused on several areas • Using private enterprises to make established, government and scientific missions more affordable • Commercial efforts to advance technology for space platforms and missions Multiple market segments are seeing opportunities in space • Communications • Science • Manufacturing Cost, capabilities and • Security frequency remain limiting • Mining factors to opening the • Tourism market to other potentially • Space maintenance viable missions. • Medical • Point to point capabilities 2 The Aerospace & Defense Forum Dallas/Ft. Worth Chapter December 10, 2015 FUTURE WINNERS WILL COMBINE LOW COST WITH HIGH FLEXIBILITY FUTURE WINNERS History History During the 80s and 90s the cost Most rocket launches are very HighHigh of launching was secondary (e.g. costly and designed to carry Cost per kg to Low Earth Orbit at large freight. Launch lead time ~$ 15K/kg - $ 30K/kg range) can take years, and smaller freights often share rides making Flexibility Future timing and destination inflexible MOST LowLow TRADITIONAL NEW SPACE Enablers of the future space INITIATIVES industry are in a 'race' to drive Future down the cost to launch (e.g. Reusable launch vehicles will cost per kg to LEO is currently at make launch schedules much a fraction of prior costs for more flexible and a process of HighHigh LowLow SpaceX and will further weeks/days rather than years decrease by future initiatives) Launch costs OUR FIT IN THE MARKET Traditional Aerospace New Space High cost infrastructure with Applications Low cost infrastructure, high flight rate, few customers, low launch (Missions) opens many new markets for large rate, high cost per flight numbers of customers Applications (Missions) XCOR XCOR’s platforms are more changes the Platform game (Launch vehicles) capable, accessible, affordable and serviceable. Platform (Launch vehicles) Infrastructure (Regulatory, Launch pads, etc.) Infrastructure Infrastructure(Regulatory, Launch (Regulatory,pads, etc.) Launch pads, etc.) 3 The Aerospace & Defense Forum Dallas/Ft. Worth Chapter December 10, 2015 THE NEW SPACE INDUSTRY XCOR THE COMPANY 4 The Aerospace & Defense Forum Dallas/Ft. Worth Chapter December 10, 2015 SPECIFIC MARKET OPPORTUNITIES FOCUS ON SPECIFIC MARKET OPPORTUNITIES: - Rocket engines With diverse, highly profitable revenue streams, the Company will - Wet Leases of spacecraft be positioned to either continue to expand its cash generating - Payloads and scientific market business model or be a potential acquisition target for financial or strategic buyers. - Space tourism - Ancillary revenue streams (*) - Orbital markets (*) * Future markets and opportunities for XCOR u XCOR VISION XCOR VISION Frequent - Space offers boundless technology and business opportunities Lessons Flights Learned - To open market: frequency must increase, costs drop and capabilities dramatically improve - Keys to commerciality of space are reusability Lower Cost Safer Flight - Engines and vehicles must have high usage rates, low serviceability requirements (quick turn times) and long lifespan High tempo flight operations are Diverse capabilities, accessibility and affordability will enabled by true reusability, rapid drive mission development. deployment and minimal maintenance 5 The Aerospace & Defense Forum Dallas/Ft. Worth Chapter December 10, 2015 XCOR MISSION XCOR MISSION NEW SPACE Through developing and producing highly reusable, and affordable engines and vehicles with low service requirements, XCOR provides platforms to HighHigh dramatically increase the viability of space missions and opportunities across diverse markets Flexibility MOST LowLow TRADITIONAL NEW SPACE > INSTANT REUSABILITY INITIATIVES HighHigh LowLow Launch costs HIGHLIGHTS IN THE HISTORY OF XCOR Candidate for ULA agreement for ACES Development of Development of upper stage engine EZ-Rocket X-Racer (exp. Jan ‘16) 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 Founded in 1999 Further developed Completing 65+ Production Near future: rocket engine manned rocket agreement with Lynx Mark II and (e.g. LOX/Methane flights, including 7 Space Florida XCOR Orbiter Engine) flights in one day 6 The Aerospace & Defense Forum Dallas/Ft. Worth Chapter December 10, 2015 PRODUCT EVOLUTION XCOR ENGINES XCOR SUBORBITAL LYNX Low cost, reusable (current) Carries people, payloads and scientific experiments to 100km XCOR EZ- XCOR ORBITAL (near future) ROCKET Two stage air launched fully Demonstrated cost reusable orbital launch system per flight at $900 XCOR X-RACER Our team has accumulated over 4,000 engine firings and 7 flights in one day with has safely flown a piloted rocket operated demonstrator 10 minute turnaround. aircraft 66 times without a single incident. Safety has our Technology proven highest priority . for Lynx system. Evolutionary step by step approach. BUSINESS DIVISIONS ROCKET ENGINES SPACECRAFT PAYLOAD MISSIONS SPACE TOURISM (WET LEASE) 7 The Aerospace & Defense Forum Dallas/Ft. Worth Chapter December 10, 2015 PRODUCTS & SERVICES BUSINESS LINE 1: INSTANTLY REUSABLE ENGINES XCOR Aerospace position • XCOR rocket engines are pump fed, modular and demonstrated with restartability, reliability and reusability • Instant reusability: fly under rocket power, land, re- fuel, perform a check list and take off again • No use of hypergolics, but rather non-toxic bi-propellants Main competitors 8 The Aerospace & Defense Forum Dallas/Ft. Worth Chapter December 10, 2015 BUSINESS LINE 2: WET LEASE XCOR Aerospace position • Two-seat spacecraft that makes use of standard runway; Lynx can fly up to 4 times a day, every day • Engines designed to be used thousands of times • Ability to carry and launch scientific and industrial equipment (payloads) into LEO • Possibility to sell, build and operate under wet lease Main competitors THE XCOR LYNX 9 The Aerospace & Defense Forum Dallas/Ft. Worth Chapter December 10, 2015 BUSINESS LINE 3: PAYLOADS/SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH XCOR Science & Payloads position • Low cost compared to substitute competitors • Frequent access, short lead time • Multi-mission payload capabilities in one flight • Missions include: microgravity research, in-situ sampling, remote sensing, micro-satellite launches, tech development and astronaut training Main competitors BUSINESS LINE 4: TOURISM XCOR Space Expeditions position • Unlike any of the competitors passengers travel in the co-pilot’s seat • Horizontal takeoff, supersonic in T+60 sec, and Mach 2.9 at T+180 seconds • Giant canopy with nearly 360 degree view from above Main competitors 10 The Aerospace & Defense Forum Dallas/Ft. Worth Chapter December 10, 2015 LYNX FLIGHT PROFILE XCOR SPACE EXPEDITIONS: CORPORATE PARTNERS 11 The Aerospace & Defense Forum Dallas/Ft. Worth Chapter December 10, 2015 TEAM KEY MANAGEMENT CEOCOO CCO BOARD- MEMBERS TEAMS XCOR.COM /XCOR @XCOR 12.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Regulatory Role of the Federal Aviation Administration
    The Regulatory Role of the Federal Aviation Federal Aviation Administration Administration Presented to: Legal Subcommittee of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space By: Laura Montgomery, Senior Attorney, FAA Regulatory Structure • Congress • Executive Branch – Federal Aviation Administration – space transportation – Federal Communications Commissions – space communications – National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – remote sensing from space • Judiciary Federal Aviation 2 2 Administration March 2010 Administrative Procedure Act • Rulemaking • Authorizations: licenses and permits • Adjudication Federal Aviation 3 3 Administration March 2010 Statutory Authority • 49 U.S.C. Subtitle IX, chapter 701 (Ch. 701) – Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to authorize launch and reentry and operation of launch and reentry sites as carried out by U.S. citizens or within the United States. – Directs the Secretary to • Exercise this responsibility consistent with public health and safety, safety of property, and national security and foreign policy interests of the United States. • Encourage, facilitate and promote commercial space launches and reentries by the private sector. Federal Aviation 4 Administration March 2010 Statutory Mission ELV Air Launch Launch & Reentry Sites RLV Launch & Reentry Sea Launch Human Space Flight Federal Aviation 5 5 Administration March 2010 Types of Launch Sites Oklahoma Spaceport ELV California Spaceport Sea Launch Florida Kodiak Launch Spaceport Complex Mid-Atlantic Mojave Air
    [Show full text]
  • Corporate Initiative for Space Tourism
    UNIVERSITY OF LJUBLJANA FACULTY OF ECONOMICS MASTER’S THESIS “OUT OF THIS WORLD” BUSINESS: CORPORATE INITIATIVE FOR SPACE TOURISM Ljubljana, March 2014 JAN KRIŠTOF RAMOVŠ AUTHORSHIP STATEMENT The undersigned Jan K. Ramovš, a student at the University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Economics, (hereafter: FELU), declare that I am the author of the master’s thesis entitled “Out Of This World” Business: Corporate Initiative for Space Tourism, written under supervision of Prof. Dr. Metka Tekavčič. In accordance with the Copyright and Related Rights Act (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, Nr. 21/1995 with changes and amendments) I allow the text of my master’s thesis to be published on the FELU website. I further declare the text of my master’s thesis to be based on the results of my own research; the text of my master’s thesis to be language-edited and technically in adherence with the FELU’s Technical Guidelines for Written Works which means that I o cited and / or quoted works and opinions of other authors in my master’s thesis in accordance with the FELU’s Technical Guidelines for Written Works and o obtained (and referred to in my master’s thesis) all the necessary permits to use the works of other authors which are entirely (in written or graphical form) used in my text; to be aware of the fact that plagiarism (in written or graphical form) is a criminal offence and can be prosecuted in accordance with the Criminal Code (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, Nr. 55/2008 with changes and amendments); to be aware of the consequences a proven plagiarism charge based on the submitted master’s thesis could have for my status at the FELU in accordance with the relevant FELU Rules on Master’s Thesis.
    [Show full text]
  • Small Launch Vehicles a 2015 State of the Industry Survey Carlos Niederstrasser
    Small Launch Vehicles A 2015 State of the Industry Survey Carlos Niederstrasser An update to this survey will be presented at the 2016 Internaonal Astronau9cal Congress 1 Agenda Overview of Small Launch Vehicles Launch Method/Locations Launch Performance Projected Launch Costs Individual Rocket Details Copyright © 2015 by Orbital ATK, Inc. 2 Listing Criteria Have a maximum capability to LEO of 1000 kg (definition of LEO left to the LV provider). The effort must be for the development of an entire launch vehicle system (with the exception of carrier aircraft for air launch vehicles). Mentioned through a web site update, social media, traditional media, conference paper, press release, etc. sometime after 2010. Have a stated goal of completing a fully operational space launch (orbital) vehicle. Funded concept or feasibility studies by government agencies, patents for new launch methods, etc., do not qualify. Expect to be widely available commercially or to the U.S. Government No specific indication that the effort has been cancelled, closed, or otherwise disbanded. Correc&ons, addi&ons, and comments are welcomed and encouraged! Copyright © 2015 by Orbital ATK, Inc. 3 We did not … … Talk to the individual companies … Rely on any proprietary/confidential information … Verify accuracy of data found in public resources Ø Primarily relied on companies’ web sites Funding sources, when listed, are not implied to be the vehicles sole or even majority funding source. We do not make any value judgements on technical or financial credibility
    [Show full text]
  • Enhancing Suborbital Science Through Better Understanding of Wind Effects
    Space Traffic Management Conference 2019 Progress through Collaboration Feb 26th, 11:00 AM Enhancing suborbital science through better understanding of wind effects Pedro Llanos Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach, [email protected] Diane Howard University of Texas at Austin Follow this and additional works at: https://commons.erau.edu/stm Part of the Aviation and Space Education Commons, Educational Technology Commons, Operational Research Commons, and the Space Vehicles Commons Llanos, Pedro and Howard, Diane, "Enhancing suborbital science through better understanding of wind effects" (2019). Space Traffic Management Conference. 25. https://commons.erau.edu/stm/2019/presentations/25 This Event is brought to you for free and open access by the Conferences at Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Space Traffic Management Conference by an authorized administrator of Scholarly Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Enhancing suborbital science through better understanding of wind effects Pedro Llanos,1 and Diane Howard2 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Florida, 32114, USA This paper highlights the importance of understanding some key factors, such as winds effects, trajectory and vehicle parameters variations in order to streamline the space vehicle operations and enhance science in the upper mesosphere at about 85 km. Understanding these effects is crucial to refine current space operations and establish more robust procedures. These procedures will involve training new space operators to conduct and coordinate space operations in class E above FL600 airspace within the Air Traffic Organization (ATO). Space vehicles such as Space Ship Two can spend up to 6 minutes in class E airspace above FL600 after launch.
    [Show full text]
  • Dominant Suborbital Space Tourism Architectures
    Dominant Suborbital Space Tourism Architectures The MIT Faculty has made this article openly available. Please share how this access benefits you. Your story matters. Citation Guerster, Markus and Edward F. Crawley. "Dominant Suborbital Space Tourism Architectures." Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets 56, 5 (September 2019): dx.doi.org/10.2514/1.a34385 As Published http://dx.doi.org/10.2514/1.a34385 Publisher American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Version Author's final manuscript Citable link https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/126666 Terms of Use Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike Detailed Terms http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ JOURNAL OF SPACECRAFT AND ROCKETS Dominant Suborbital Space Tourism Architectures Markus Guerster∗ and Edward F. Crawley† Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 DOI: 10.2514/1.A34385 In the early stages of maturity of a system built for a specific function, it is common for the solutions to lie in a broad architectural space, in which numerous concepts are being developed, built, and tested. As the product matures, certain concepts become more dominant. This pattern can currently be observed in the suborbital tourism industry, in which the obvious question is what system architecture will provide the best combination of cost and safety and in the long run become the dominant architecture. This paper addresses this question by defining a broad architectural space of thousands of possibilities and exploring it comprehensively. We identified 33 feasible architectures, 26 of which had not been proposed earlier. A genetic algorithm optimizes each architecture with respect to the launch mass (a proxy for cost) and operational safety.
    [Show full text]
  • Space Planes and Space Tourism: the Industry and the Regulation of Its Safety
    Space Planes and Space Tourism: The Industry and the Regulation of its Safety A Research Study Prepared by Dr. Joseph N. Pelton Director, Space & Advanced Communications Research Institute George Washington University George Washington University SACRI Research Study 1 Table of Contents Executive Summary…………………………………………………… p 4-14 1.0 Introduction…………………………………………………………………….. p 16-26 2.0 Methodology…………………………………………………………………….. p 26-28 3.0 Background and History……………………………………………………….. p 28-34 4.0 US Regulations and Government Programs………………………………….. p 34-35 4.1 NASA’s Legislative Mandate and the New Space Vision………….……. p 35-36 4.2 NASA Safety Practices in Comparison to the FAA……….…………….. p 36-37 4.3 New US Legislation to Regulate and Control Private Space Ventures… p 37 4.3.1 Status of Legislation and Pending FAA Draft Regulations……….. p 37-38 4.3.2 The New Role of Prizes in Space Development…………………….. p 38-40 4.3.3 Implications of Private Space Ventures…………………………….. p 41-42 4.4 International Efforts to Regulate Private Space Systems………………… p 42 4.4.1 International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety… p 42-43 4.4.2 The International Telecommunications Union (ITU)…………….. p 43-44 4.4.3 The Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS).. p 44 4.4.4 The European Aviation Safety Agency…………………………….. p 44-45 4.4.5 Review of International Treaties Involving Space………………… p 45 4.4.6 The ICAO -The Best Way Forward for International Regulation.. p 45-47 5.0 Key Efforts to Estimate the Size of a Private Space Tourism Business……… p 47 5.1.
    [Show full text]
  • The Annual Compendium of Commercial Space Transportation: 2017
    Federal Aviation Administration The Annual Compendium of Commercial Space Transportation: 2017 January 2017 Annual Compendium of Commercial Space Transportation: 2017 i Contents About the FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation The Federal Aviation Administration’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation (FAA AST) licenses and regulates U.S. commercial space launch and reentry activity, as well as the operation of non-federal launch and reentry sites, as authorized by Executive Order 12465 and Title 51 United States Code, Subtitle V, Chapter 509 (formerly the Commercial Space Launch Act). FAA AST’s mission is to ensure public health and safety and the safety of property while protecting the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States during commercial launch and reentry operations. In addition, FAA AST is directed to encourage, facilitate, and promote commercial space launches and reentries. Additional information concerning commercial space transportation can be found on FAA AST’s website: http://www.faa.gov/go/ast Cover art: Phil Smith, The Tauri Group (2017) Publication produced for FAA AST by The Tauri Group under contract. NOTICE Use of trade names or names of manufacturers in this document does not constitute an official endorsement of such products or manufacturers, either expressed or implied, by the Federal Aviation Administration. ii Annual Compendium of Commercial Space Transportation: 2017 GENERAL CONTENTS Executive Summary 1 Introduction 5 Launch Vehicles 9 Launch and Reentry Sites 21 Payloads 35 2016 Launch Events 39 2017 Annual Commercial Space Transportation Forecast 45 Space Transportation Law and Policy 83 Appendices 89 Orbital Launch Vehicle Fact Sheets 100 iii Contents DETAILED CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .
    [Show full text]
  • Greason, CEO XCOR Aerospace February 18, 2010
    Providing Low Cost Access to Space REM Capabilities of The Lynx Suborbital Vehicle Presentation to Next-Generation Suborbital Researchers Conference February 18, 2010 1 © 2010 XCOR Aerospace, Inc. All RightsProprietary Reserved. & Confidential Proprietary to XCORto XCOR Aerospace Aerospace, (See Inc. Last No Slide) Third Party Disclosure Allowable. 1 Lynx Overview … • Suborbital space vehicle • Horizontal takeoff/landing • Two seats – pilot plus one • Small vehicle – Wingspan ~24 feet – Length ~30 feet • Multi-mission capable – In-cockpit experiments – External mount experiments – Test pilot/astronaut training – Upper atmospheric sampling – Microsatellite launch © 2010– XCORSpace Aerospace, tourism Inc. All Rights Reserved. Proprietary to XCOR Aerospace, Inc. No Third Party Disclosure Allowable. 2 Lynx Heritage … • EZ Rocket taught us … – Development of safe EZ-Rocket (2001-2005) reusable propulsion – Integration into airframe – Low cost & safe operational procedures – Regulatory framework • X-Racer taught us … – Pump fed fuel enabled high performance for future ops – Improved low cost ops and safety regime processes – Improved airframe skill sets and avionics integration X-Racer (2006-2008) © 2010 XCOR Aerospace, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Proprietary to XCOR Aerospace, Inc. No Third Party Disclosure Allowable. 3 Lynx: Mark I • Horizontal takeoff/landing • 61 km (200,000 ft) peak altitude • Mach 2.4 top speed • First flight in 2011 © 2010 XCOR Aerospace, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Proprietary to XCOR Aerospace, Inc. No Third Party Disclosure Allowable. 4 LYNX Mark II • Follows Mark I by 9-18 months • ~5000 flight life • Mach 3.5, over 100 km • Can launch two stage to LEO ~10kg © 2010 XCOR Aerospace, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Proprietary to XCOR Aerospace, Inc. No Third Party Disclosure Allowable.
    [Show full text]
  • XCOR Aerospace, Inc
    XCOR Aerospace, Inc. …Providing Low Cost, Safe & Responsive Access to Space © 2013© 2013 XCOR XCOR Aerospace, Aerospace, Inc. Inc. All RightsAll Rights Reserved. Reserved. 1 Watch the video: <http://youtu.be/PjzGaSQX0iU> XCOR Aerospace, Inc. …Providing Low Cost, Safe & Responsive Access to Space © 2013© 2013 XCOR XCOR Aerospace, Aerospace, Inc. Inc. All RightsAll Rights Reserved. Reserved. 1 XCOR History Founded in 1999 Located at Mojave Air & Spaceport, CA –Moving to Midland, TX Fourteen different rocket engine designs –Approximately 5,000 firings –Innovative piston pump © 2013 XCOR Aerospace, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 2 History of Rocketry © 2013 XCOR Aerospace, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 5 Wernher von Braun © 2013 XCOR Aerospace, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 6 History of Rocketry © 2013 XCOR Aerospace, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 7 Turbopumps High efficiency compression of liquid fuels and oxidizer But... Expensive to design Expensive to build Very expensive to maintain © 2013 XCOR Aerospace, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 8 Three Phase Pumping 1 Rate of Flow Time 2 Single piston cylinder leads to sinusoidal variation in flow. 1 Rate of Flow Time © 2013 XCOR Aerospace, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 9 Three Phase Pumping 1 Rate of Flow Time 120° offset 2 Adding a second piston cylinder begins to smooth out net fluid flow. Average flow = 1 1 unit/sec Rate of Flow Time © 2013 XCOR Aerospace, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 10 Three Phase Pumping 1 Rate of Flow Time 120° offset 2 Adding a third piston cylinder smooths out net fluid flow completely. Average flow = 1.5 unit/sec 1 Rate of Flow Time © 2013 XCOR Aerospace, Inc.
    [Show full text]
  • Forging Commercial Confidence
    SPACEPORT UK: AHEAD FORGING WITH COMMERCIAL CONFIDENCE Copyright © Satellite Applications Catapult Ltd 2014. SPACEPORT UK: FORGING AHEAD WITH COMMERCIAL CONFIDENCE TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 07 2 DEMAND FORECAST 11 • Commercial human spaceflight • Very high speed point to point travel • Satellite deployment • Microgravity research • Other commercial demand 3 SPACEPORT FACILITIES 47 • Core infrastructure required • Spaceflight preparation and training • Tours/visitor centre • Space campus • Key findings 4 WIDER ECONOMIC IMPACT 57 • Summary • Site development • Employment • Tourism • R&D/education • Key findings 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS 5 REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT 67 • Unlocking commercial potential 6 RISKS 73 • Accidents • Single operator • Local opposition 7 FINANCING 77 • Existing scenario • Potential funding sources • Other sources of funds • Insurance • Key findings Appendices 85 • Appendix A • Appendix B Acknowledgements and contact information 89 5 Spaceport UK: A pillar of growth for the UK and European space industry, enabling lower cost access to space, and creating economic benefit far beyond its perimeter fence. A spaceport will unlock economic growth and jobs in existing UK industries and regions, while positioning the UK to take advantage of emerging demand for commercial human spaceflight, small satellite launch, microgravity research, parabolic flights, near-space balloon tourism, and eventually high-speed point-to-point travel. Without a specific site selected and looking at the economic impact of a spaceport generically, this report expects the spaceport to deliver approximately £2.5bn and 8,000 jobs to the broader UK economy over 10 years. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1 Executive Summary Our plan is for Britain to have a fully functional, operating spaceport “by 2018. This would serve as a European focal point for the pioneers of commercial spaceflight using the potential of spaceflight experience companies like Virgin Galactic, XCOR and Swiss S3 to pave the way for satellite launch services to follow.
    [Show full text]
  • Status and Perspectives of Hypersonic Systems and Technologies with Emphasis on the Role of Sub-Orbital Flight ∗ S
    Aerotecnica Missili & Spazio, The Journal of Aerospace Science, Technology and Systems Status and Perspectives of Hypersonic Systems and Technologies with Emphasis on the Role of Sub-Orbital Flight ∗ S. Chiesaa, G. Russob, M. Fioritia, S. Corpinoa a Politecnico di Torino Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering b AIDAA Sez. Napoletana c/o Department of Industrial Engineering \Federico II" - University of Naples Abstract The relevance and the main features of Hypersonic Flight are shortly presented and discussed. A synthetic overview of the few realisations and of many studies, projects and technological demonstrators offers opportunity of point out many interesting aspects. Then the more actual realisations and studies are considered, with particular attention to the new sector of small suborbital planes for Space Tourism. That gives opportunity of proposing a Road Map for an affordable and logic development of Hypersonic Flight, passing through the development of a suborbital Space Tourism plane on the basis of an existing subsonic business jet. Then the suborbital plane will constitute the basis of developing an Hypersonic Cruise Business Jet and, as a next step, a TSTO. 1. Introduction 2. Hypersonic Flight Concept The hypersonic flight is a subject on which the ef- It is considered appropriate to establish a definition forts of basic and applied aerospace research have been of hypersonic aircraft, useful to define the topic of dis- focused over the years. These efforts consisted in cussion; we define hypersonic aircraft a system capable the development of several projects and correspond- of taking off and landing horizontally (HOTOL - Hori- ing technological fields, such as aerodynamics, propul- zontal Take Off and Landing), and capable of flying at sion, structures capable of withstanding high thermal a Mach higher than 4.5.
    [Show full text]
  • Architectural Options and Optimization of Suborbital Space Tourism Vehicles Markus Guerster Edward F
    Architectural Options and Optimization of Suborbital Space Tourism Vehicles Markus Guerster Edward F. Crawley System Architecture Lab, MIT System Architecture Lab, MIT 77 Massachusetts Avenue. 77 Massachusetts Avenue. Cambridge, MA 02139 Cambridge, MA 02139 857-999-6103 617-230-6604 [email protected] [email protected] Abstract— Since the creation of the Ansari X-Prize, a significant The birth of the suborbital space tourism dates to May 1996, technical and commercial interest has developed in suborbital where the Ansari XPrize was launched by the Ansari family. space tourism. An obvious question arises: what system This competition challenged teams all around the world to architecture will provide the best combination of cost and safety build a reusable, private-funded and manned spaceship. The for the performance defined by the prize? The objective of this first team carrying three people to 100 km above the Earth’s paper is to address this question, by defining the design space and searching comprehensively through it with respect to surface twice within two weeks received the $10 million launch mass (a proxy for cost) and safety. We have identified 33 price. 26 teams from 7 nations proposed their concept. architectures and visualized them in a single table. Of these, 26 Finally, the Mojave Aerospace Ventures team, which was led have not earlier been proposed. A genetic algorithm optimized by Burt Rutan and his company Scaled Composites and each of these 33 architectures for launch mass and safety. The financed from Paul Allen, won the competition on October 4, launch mass was calculated by a design framework consisting of 2004.
    [Show full text]