In Part 1: Rockets, we took a tour of some of the major rockets in operation today around the world, and now in Part 2 we take a look at some of the experimental rocket systems currently under development that have obvious potential. As in the first diary, these are images of real hardware only - I will not waste my time with viewgraph fantasies and CGI videos that are the sole output of most self-described space firms.
II. Experimental Rockets
Theme music:
- Scaled Composites (manufacturer)
a. SpaceShipOne
Description: SpaceShipOne is the scale technology-demonstrator prototype for SpaceShipTwo (see below), and its two suborbital flights to space won the $10 million Ansari X Prize. Retired after its prize-winning flight and now displayed at the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum.
b. SpaceShipTwo
Description: A scaled-up version of the SpaceShipOne system (including the White Knight Two, a scaled-up version of the White Knight One carrier aircraft seen in the above images), SpaceShipTwo is nearing completion and is scheduled to be unveiled early next month. It is scheduled to begin flight testing early next year. White Knight Two has been in flight testing since early this year, and 22 test flights are recorded in the flight logs.
i. White Knight Two carrier aircraft for SS2:
ii. SpaceShipTwo (Completed system to be unveiled Dec. 7)
- Armadillo Aerospace
Description: Armadillo Aerospace is working on creating modular, cheap, and reliable suborbital rockets. They won a total of $500,000 at the Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge using their vertical-takeoff / vertical-landing vehicles to achieve hover, horizontal translation, and powered landing. Armadillo is also working a rocket plane racer for the still-nascent Rocket Racing League, and is also doing methane rocket work for NASA.
a. Quad (4 tank)
b. Mod (2 tank)
c. Rocket racer
- Masten Space Systems
Masten Space Systems is a friendly competitor of Armadillo Aerospace and is working on similar technology. Although its designs were originally quite different from Armadillo's, they have converged somewhat. Masten recently won $1 million in the Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge.
a. Xoie
b. Xombie
- XCOR Aerospace
Description: XCOR Aerospace is currently working on the Lynx suborbital manned space vehicle, LOX/Methane engines for NASA, and its own version of rocket racer for the Rocket Racing League.
a. Lynx (currently in engine development)
b. LOX/Methane engine
Scale model:
Full engine:
c. Rocket racer
LOX / Kerosene engine test:
Racer:
- Ad Astra Rocket Company
Description: Ad Astra is currently developing a VASIMR - Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket - and has a contract with NASA to fly its first operational model on the International Space Station as a thruster. With sufficient power, a scaled-up version of this rocket could reduce the travel time to Mars for a manned spacecraft from 9 months to a little more than one month.
Note: The cylindrical vessel with windows is, I believe, a vacuum chamber. The hexagonal system being loaded into it is the VASIMR engine.
Videos:
SpaceShipOne:
White Knight Two:
SpaceShipTwo assembly:
Armadillo Aerospace flights (there are MANY more flight vids at the company's website):
Masten Xoie flight:
Masten Xombie flight:
XCOR engine tests:
XCOR racer flight:
VASIMR test: