[extropy-chat] Space Development Newsletter: October 2004

Tue Sep 21 13:43:18 UTC 2004

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SpaceDev Begins Work on “Dream Chaser” Space Vehicle
Space Act MOU Signed with NASA Ames Research Center

SpaceDev has begun designing a reuseable, piloted, sub-orbital
space ship that could be scaled up to safely and economically
transport passengers to and from low earth orbit, including the
International Space Station.   The name of the vehicle is the
“SpaceDev Dream Chaser.”

SpaceDev’s founding chairman and CEO, Jim Benson, recently
signed a Space Act Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with NASA
Ames Research Center director, Dr. Scott Hubbard. This
non-binding MOU confirms the intention of the two parties to
explore novel, hybrid propulsion based hypersonic test beds for
routine human space access.  The parties will explore
collaborative partnerships to investigate the potential of using
SpaceDev’s proven hybrid propulsion and other technologies, and
a low cost, private space program development approach, to
establish and design new piloted small launch vehicles and
flight test platforms to enable near-term, low-cost routine
space access for NASA and the United States. One possibility for
collaboration is the SpaceDev Dream Chaser™ project, which is
currently being discussed with NASA Ames.

Unlike the more complex SpaceShipOne, for which SpaceDev
provides critical proprietary hybrid rocket motor propulsion
technologies, the SpaceDev Dream Chaser™ would be piloted and
take-off vertically, like most launch vehicles, and is designed
to glide back for a normal horizontal runway landing.

The sub-orbital SpaceDev Dream Chaser is derived from an
existing X-Plane concept, will have an altitude goal of
approximately 160 km (about 100 miles) and will be powered by a
single, high performance hybrid rocket motor, under parallel
development by SpaceDev for the SpaceDev Streaker, a family of
small, expendable launch vehicles, designed to affordably
deliver small satellites to low earth orbit.  The SpaceDev Dream
Chaser will use motor technology being developed for the
SpaceDev Streaker booster stage, the most powerful motor in the
Streaker family.  The SpaceDev Dream Chaser motor will produce
approximately 100,000 pounds of thrust, about six times the
thrust of the SpaceShipOne motor, but less than one-half that of
the 250,000 pound thrust hybrid rocket motors developed several
years ago by the American Rocket Company (AMROC).

SpaceDev Delivers Rocket Motors for X-Prize Attempt

SpaceDev, after recently completing work on a full duration,
maximum energy, ground test firing of a more powerful version of
the rocket motors destined for SpaceShipOne, SpaceDev has
shipped the rocket motors that will be used for the upcoming
historic attempt by SpaceShipOne to win the $10 million Ansari X
Prize.  The hybrid rocket motors burn rubber and laughing gas
(HTPB and N2O).

At its facility in Poway, CA, near San Diego, SpaceDev finished
casting the HTPB fuel into three discardable motor cases,
assembled and integrated SpaceDev’s proprietary technology into
the motors, and has shipped them to Mojave, CA in preparation
for the upcoming flights. A less powerful version of this motor
powered SpaceShipOne to fly well beyond 50 miles altitude, and
created the world’s first private sector astronaut on June 21,
2004.

Paul Allen’s SpaceShipOne uses proprietary propulsion technology
developed by SpaceDev.  SpaceDev is working on various
propulsion projects, including SpaceShipOne, the SpaceDev
Streaker™ family of small expendable unmanned launch vehicles
for small satellites, SpaceDev’s proposed reusable piloted space
ship, and a scalable space tug, all being worked on under
various private sector and government contracts. 

“This is like the microcomputer revolution,” said Benson “with
SpaceDev helping to revolutionize the somewhat technologically
moribund $100 billion space industry with high performance,
low-cost microsatellites, and with hybrid-based propulsion
systems for delivering cargo and people to space, safely and
affordably.”

Under a separate government contract, SpaceDev is developing the
SpaceDev Streaker™ -- a family of small, responsive and
affordable launch vehicles, using non-exploding hybrid rocket
motor technology developed by SpaceDev with higher performance
than the ones developed for SpaceShipOne or other traditional
hybrid rocket motors.  The single-stage SpaceDev Streaker™ is
planned as a target or sounding rocket, and is expected to be
priced below existing competition.  The three-stage version is
being designed to launch a microsat, similar to SpaceDev’s
revolutionary CHIPSat, from anywhere in the world, on 24-hour
notice, from a C-17A cargo plane. The four-stage mobile ground
launched version of the SpaceDev Streaker™ is being developed to
put 1,000 pounds of payload into low earth orbit, and is
expected to be priced below currently planned or existing
domestic small launch vehicles. 

SpaceDev, using government projects, internal funding, and
capital from the Laurus Master Funds of New York, is developing
what SpaceDev believes is a practical concept for safe,
affordable, fully integrated manned space flight systems for
both sub-orbital and orbital applications.  With the potential
that NASA will follow the Aldridge Commission recommendations to
better utilize private sector companies, there may be new
contract and funding opportunities for concepts and innovative
space technology being developed by SpaceDev. 

SpaceDev Announces Vice President of Engineering

SpaceDev announced that Frank Macklin has been promoted to Vice
President of Engineering.  Prior to this appointment, Mr.
Macklin was Chief Engineer for hybrid rocket propulsion
systems. 

“Frank’s prior Air Force experience with missiles, and his more
recent experience with the General Dynamics Atlas II launch
vehicle and its Centaur upper stage, made him the right person
to head up hybrid propulsion projects here at SpaceDev,” said
Jim Benson, founding chairman and chief executive of SpaceDev. 
“Where possible, we like to promote from within, and Frank has
certainly earned this position through all the successful space
technology development projects he has been involved in at
SpaceDev.”

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