Fwd: Northrop Grumman developing reusable space plane for lifting spacecraft into orbit

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From: "Gary Johnson" <gjohnson144@comcast.net>
Date: August 20, 2014 10:28:16 AM CDT
To: "Gary Johnson" <gjohnson144@comcast.net>
Subject: FW: Northrop Grumman developing reusable space plane for lifting spacecraft into orbit

 

 

News Releases

Photo Release -- Northrop Grumman Developing XS-1 Experimental Spaceplane Design for DARPA
REDONDO BEACH, Calif. – Aug. 19, 2014 – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) 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. A photo accompanying this release is available at: http://media.globenewswire.com/noc/mediagallery.html?pkgid=27176. XS-1 has 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. Reusable boosters with aircraft-like operations provide a breakthrough in space lift costs for this payload class, enabling new generations of lower cost, innovative and more resilient spacecraft. The company is defining its concept for XS-1 under a 13-month, phase one contract valued at $3.9 million. In addition to low-cost launch, the XS-1 would serve as a test-bed for a new generation of hypersonic aircraft. A key program goal is to fly 10 times in 10 days using a minimal ground crew and infrastructure. Reusable aircraft-like operations would help reduce military and commercial light spacecraft launch costs by a factor of 10 from current launch costs in this payload class. To complement its aircraft, spacecraft and autonomous systems capabilities, Northrop Grumman has teamed with Scaled Composites of Mojave, which will lead fabrication and assembly, and Virgin Galactic, the privately-funded spaceline, which will head commercial spaceplane operations and transition. "Our team is uniquely qualified to meet DARPA's XS-1 operational system goals, having built and transitioned many developmental systems to operational use, including our current work on the world's only commercial spaceline, Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo," said Doug Young, vice president, missile defense and advanced missions, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems. "We plan to bundle proven technologies into our concept that we developed during related projects for DARPA, NASA and the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, giving the government maximum return on those investments," Young added. The design would be built around operability and affordability, emphasizing aircraft-like operations including: – Clean pad launch using a transporter erector launcher, minimal infrastructure and ground crew; – Highly autonomous flight operations that leverage Northrop Grumman's unmanned aircraft systems experience; and – Aircraft-like horizontal landing and recovery on standard runways. Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in air and space unmanned systems, cyber, C4ISR, and logistics and modernization to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information. CONTACT: Amy Akmal          424-254-6945          amy.akmal@ngc.com

 

 

Images

Northrop Grumman Corporation with Scaled Composites and Virgin Galactic is developing a preliminary design for DARPA's Experimental Spaceplane XS-1, shown here in an artist's concept. In addition to low-cost launch, the XS-1 will serve as a test-bed for a new generation of hypersonic aircraft. (Northrop Grumman Image)

 

© 2014 Northrop Grumman Corporation. All rights reserved.

 

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Northrop Grumman developing reusable space plane for lifting spacecraft into orbit

Northrop Grumman and two partner companies are developing a reusable space plane for carrying 3,000-pound spacecraft into low Earth orbit.

 

By Richard Tomkins   |   Aug. 19, 2014 at 4:37 PM   |   

 

REDONDO BEACH, Calif., Aug. 19 (UPI) -- A preliminary design and flight demonstration plan for an experimental space plane with a reusable booster is being developed by Northrop Grumman.

The space plane, the XS-1, is envisaged for lifting 3,000-pound class spacecraft into low Earth orbit at a lower cost than current launch equipment. The plane would serve as a test-bed for a new generation of hypersonic aircraft.

The work -- with team partners Scaled Composites and Virgin Galactic -- comes under a 13-month phase one contract from the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

"Our team is uniquely qualified to meet DARPA's XS-1 operational system goals, having built and transitioned many developmental systems to operational use, including our current work on the world's only commercial spaceline, Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo," said Doug Young, vice president, missile defense and advanced missions, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems.

"We plan to bundle proven technologies into our concept that we developed during related projects for DARPA, NASA and the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, giving the government maximum return on those investments."

Northrop Grumman said a key program goal is to develop a system that could fly 10 times in 10 days using a minimal ground crew and infrastructure.

The system would utilize a transporter erector launcher. Minimal infrastructure and ground crew would be required for launch and recovery, and land like a normal aircraft on standard runways.

"Reusable boosters with aircraft-like operations provide a breakthrough in space lift costs for this payload class, enabling new generations of lower cost, innovative and more resilient spacecraft."          

© 2014 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 

 

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