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2005 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments and Concepts Reusable Launch VehiclesNeptune – Interorbital SystemsVehicle: NeptuneDeveloper: Interorbital SystemsFirst launch: 2006Number of stages: 3Payload performance: 4,082 kg (9,000 lbs.) to LEO(21°, 402 km (250 mi), 2,898 kg (6,390 lbs.), SSO(644 km (400 mi), 1,224 kg (2,700 lbs.) GTO, 816 kg(1,800 lbs.) lunar orbitLaunch sites: Pacific Ocean near California andKingdom of TongaIOS’ Neptune will support a numberof human spaceflight and other payloadlaunch missions. In November2004, IOS entered as a competitor forAmerica’s Space Prize, the $50-millioncontest sponsored by BigelowAerospace for a privately developedlaunch of a piloted vehicle to orbit.Neptune will be powered by two highthrustbipropellant liquid rocketengines. Like Sea Star, Neptune isdesigned to launch from the sea usingNeptunea two-stage booster and an orbitalstage. Its first two booster stages will each use asingle hypergolic engine, burning WFNA and HX,with four steering rockets per stage. The orbitalstage will use a single cryogenic LOX/HX engine.The booster stages are designed to be water-recoverablewith a parachute landing and reusable. Theorbital stage and crew capsule will allow for stayson orbit of up to 7 days. Fuel tanks of the orbitalstage can be outfitted for habitation and may evenserve as future modules for an orbiting space hotel.The crew capsule can be reused after a parachutelanding. The crew compartment includes an aftescape and service module to pull passengers awayfrom the vehicle and to a safe landing in the eventof vehicle failure.K-1 – Kistler Aerospace CorporationVehicle: K-1Developer: Kistler Aerospace CorporationFirst launch: To be determinedNumber of stages: 2Payload performance: 5,700 kg (12,500 lbs.) to LEO;3,200 kg (7,000 lbs.) to ISS and 900 kg (2,000 lbs.)from ISS; 1,570 kg (3,460 lbs.) to GTO, 900-1,400 kg(2,000-3,000 lbs.) to interplanetary targetsPlanned launch sites: Woomera, Australia; U.S. launchsite under evaluationTargeted markets: Deployment of payloads to LEO,MEO, and GTO; interplanetary orbits (with K-1 ActiveDispenser); ISS cargo re-supply and return missions.Kistler Aerospace Corporation hasbeen developing the fully reusableK-1 for launches of government andcommercial payloads to orbit. Thefirst vehicle is 75 percent complete.The K-1 design was developed inthe mid-1990s as a two-stage-toorbit(TSTO) vehicle with a payloadcapacity of approximately 5,700kilograms (12,500 pounds) to LEO.The K-1 will be able to launch multiplesmall payloads and conductK-1technology demonstrations on dedicatedLEO missions or as secondary payloads.Kistler has completed a conceptual designfor an Active Dispenser that will deploy payloads tomedium Earth orbits (MEO), GTO, and interplanetarytrajectories. The Active Dispenser will expandthe K-1’s capability beyond LEO (approximately1,570 kilograms (3,462 pounds) to GTO or 900 to1,400 kilograms (2,000 to 3,000 pounds) to interplanetarytargets). The K-1’s inherent reusabilityenables it to provide cargo re-supply and returnservices for the International Space Station (ISS),delivering approximately 3,200 kilograms (7,000pounds) up-mass and recovering a minimum of 900kilograms (2,000 pounds) down-mass to the launchsite. The K-1 will launch vertically like a conventionalELV, but it will use a unique combination ofparachutesand air bags to recover its two stages. Designed tooperate with a small complement of ground personnel,this vehicle will be transported to the launch site anderected with a mobile transporter. The K-1 will measureapproximately 37 meters (121 feet) in height and havea launch mass of 382,300 kilograms (843,000 pounds).Federal Aviation Administration/Office of Commercial Space Transportation 19
Reusable Launch Vehicles2005 U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments and ConceptsThe K-1 employs off-the-shelf technology and Rocketplane XP – Rocketplane Limited, Inc.components in its design. The first stage, known asthe Launch Assist Platform (LAP), is powered by Vehicle: Rocketplane XPthree LOX/kerosene GenCorp Aerojet AJ26Developer: Rocketplane Limited, Inc.engines. These engines are U.S. modifications of First launch: 2007the fully developed, extensively tested core of the Number of stages: 1NK-33/NK-43 engines. These engines were originallydesigned for the Soviet lunar program in the (62.5 miles)Payload performance: 408 kg (900 lbs.) to 100 km1960s and subsequently placed in storage for overPlanned launch sites: Oklahoma Spaceport (primary)two decades. After launch, the LAP separates from and KSC (alternate)the second stage and restarts its center engine to put Targeted markets: Suborbital space tourism, microgravityresearch, small satellite deploymentthe stage on a return trajectory to a landing areanear the launch site. The LAP deploys parachutesand descends to the landing area where air bags aredeployed to cushion its landing. The second stage,or orbital vehicle, continues into LEO where itreleases its payload. A single Aerojet AJ26-60engine powers the orbital vehicle. Following payloadseparation, the orbital vehicle continues onRocketplane XPRocketplane Limited is developing the Rocketplaneorbit for approximately 24 hours. Then, aXP, a scaled-down version of its original PathfinderLOX/ethanol Orbital Maneuvering System performsa deorbit burn. Lastly, the orbital vehiclevehicle concept. The Rocketplane XP is a four-seatfighter-sized vehicle powered by two jet enginesends its ballistic reentry profile by deploying parachutesand air bags in a manner similar to the LAP.and one pressure-fed LOX/kerosene rocket engine,enabling it to reach altitudes of 107 kilometers (66miles). In 2004, Rocketplane Limited signed a marketingagreement with Incredible Adventures to sellKistler expects to operate the K-1 from twolaunch sites: Woomera, Australia, and a U.S. domesticlaunch site. Kistler Woomera Pty., Ltd., a whollysuborbital tourist flights. The company is currentlytaking reservations for Rocketplane flights andowned subsidiary of Kistler Aerospace Corporation,hopes to make its first tourist flight in 2007.will operate the K-1 from Woomera. Kistlerreceived authorization from the Australian governmentto begin construction of launch facilities atThe spaceflight experience as currently envisionedincludes 5 days of training and team socialWoomera in April 1998 and held a groundbreakingevents, with the spaceflight on the sixth day. Inceremony at the site several months later. Theaddition to space tourism flights, the company islaunch pad design is complete, and Kistler will conductits initial K-1 flights and commercial opera-pursuing other markets, including microgravityresearch and military applications, including smalltions from Woomera. In 1998, Kistler signed ansatellite deployment.agreement with the Nevada Test Site Development20Corporation to permit Kistler to occupy a segmentof the U.S. Department of Energy’s Nevada TestSite for its launch operations. The FAA/AST environmentalreview process was completed for theKistler project in 2002. In addition, Kistler continuesto explore potential U.S. launch and landingsites (subject to regulatory approval), such as atCCAFS, VAFB, and EAFB. In 2003, Kistler filed toreorganize under Chapter 11 of the U.S. BankruptcyCode, and it is in the final stages of the reorganizationprocess. Kistler plans to emerge from Chapter11 and restart the K-1 program in 2005. 1920 Federal Aviation Administration/Office of Commercial Space Transportation
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