|
17K-AM
|
A small two stage to orbit horizontal takeoff / horizontal landing vehicle proposed for the Russian Air Force in 1993....more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
AACB Class 1
|
In 1965-1966 NASA and the Department of Defense jointly studied two-stage-to-orbit reusable launch vehicles as a follow-on to existing expendable launchers. Following...more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
AACB Class 2
|
The AACB Class II launch vehicle was a fully reusable, two-stage-to-orbit launch vehicle. Both stages would be lifting bodies and be powered by Lox/LH2 engines....more.
|
|
|
|
|
AACB Class 3
|
The AACB Class III launch vehicle was an advanced concept use air-breathing stages, but still requiring two stages to achieve orbit. The joint NASA/USAF panel concluded...more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aerospaceplane
|
Development project from 1958-1963 for a horizontal takeoff / horizontal landing, single-stage-to-orbit vehicle that would carry three crew and additional paylaod from any airfield to orbit and back...more.
|
|
|
|
|
Ares FBB
|
The ARES ((Affordable REsponsive Spacelift) concept was of a reusable fly-back booster with expendable upper stages. The US Air Force began development of a demonstrator...more.
|
|
|
|
|
Ascender
|
The Bristol Spaceplanes Ascender of the 1990`s was a sub-orbital manned spaceplane concept proposed by David Ashford. The Ascender spaceplane would use a small...more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Astroplane
|
Martin concept of 1961 for a horizontal takeoff / horizontal landing, single-stage-to-orbit vehicle that would be powered by nuclear magnetohydrodynamic engines....more.
|
|
|
|
|
Chang Cheng 1
|
The Chang Cheng 1 (Great Wall 1) vertical takeoff / horizontal landing two-stage space shuttle was a compromise design created jointly by Shanghai Astronautics...more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
CNES Shuttle 1963
|
French studies in the 1960's were supervised by the French Space Agency, CNES, and developed along two paths. Path 1 was a manned hypersonic booster stage, with...more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Copper Canyon
|
DARPA program of 1984 that proved the technologies and concept for the X-30 National Aerospace Plane concept....more.
|
|
|
|
|
Douglas Astro
|
The Douglas "Astro" was a VTHL TSTO system designed for launching space station crews and cargo by the 1968-70 period. A key requirement was that off-the-shelf...more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
DSL HTHL
|
Under the Future European Space Transportation Investigation Programme (FESTIP) of 1994-1999 French agencies and contractors designed a number of alternative reusable...more.
|
|
|
|
|
EARL
|
Vertical takoff / horizontal landing two-stage launch vehicle study from the 1980s....more.
|
|
|
|
|
Energia
|
The Energia-Buran Reusable Space System (MKS) began development in 1976 as a Soviet booster that would exceed the capabilities of the US shuttle system. Following...more.
|
|
|
|
|
EXTV
|
This was to be a reusable winged rocket-powered atmospheric reentry demonstrator capable of reaching speeds of Mach 4 to 10 in the atmosphere. The aim was for ESA...more.
|
|
|
|
|
FLTP
|
Europe's Future Launcher Technology Program (FLTP) was an ESA study program that ran from 1999-2002, with the objective of identifying and developing technologies...more.
|
|
|
|
|
Gryphon
|
Winged, horizontal-takeoff/horizontal concept space booster concept using an Air Collection and Enrichment System to generate liquid oxygen oxidiser from the atmosphere...more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
H-2 HTOHL
|
The H-2 horizontal takeoff / horizontal landing two-stage reusable space shuttle was proposed by Institute 601 of the Air Ministry in 1988. The first stage would...more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
He-112
|
The Heinkel He-112 was an unsuccessful pre-war German monoplane fighter, competing for orders with the Bf 109. However it entered rocketry history when tests were conducted with rocket engines....more.
|
|
|
|
|
HOTOL
|
This single-stage-to-orbit winged horizontal takeoff/horizontal landing launch vehicle concept was powered by the unique Rolls-Royce RB545 air / liquid hydrogen...more.
|
|
|
|
|
Hytex
|
Following the cancellation of Saenger II, Germany briefly considered a manned X-15/NASP type flight test vehicle (HYTEX) capable of Mach 6 flight. This too was cancelled for cost reasons....more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Isinglass
|
CIA air-launched, rocket-powered high speed manned vehicle project of 1965-1968 that developed basic technologies used in later shuttle and reusable launch vehicle programmes....more.
|
|
|
|
|
Japanese Space Plane
|
NAL / Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. design for a single stage to orbit spaceplane. Crew of ten, empty mass 110 tonnes. LACE / Scramjet engines, 29 m wingspan....more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
LART
|
MBB/ERNO airbreathing horizontal takeoff / horizontal landing single stage to orbit proposal from the mid-1980s. Largely similar to the BAe HOTOL....more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Martin Astrorocket
|
Early two-stage-to-orbit shuttle study, using storable propellants, Dynasoar-configuration delta wing orbiter and booster....more.
|
|
|
|
|
McDonnell-Douglas ILRV
|
The McDonnell-Douglas ILRV design featured fold-out wings for improved low-speed lift-to-drag ratio during final descent and landing. All of the vehicle’s propellants...more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Me-163
|
The rocket-powered Messerschmitt Me-163 was the world's first and only operational pure rocket fighter and represented the culmination of Alexander Lippisch's years...more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
MIGAKS
|
Turbojet/ramjet-powered two stage to orbit horizontal takeoff / horizontal landing vehicle. Mach 6 stage separation. The orbiter had a 2000 km cross-range capability...more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mikoyan 301
|
The 301 was designed as a military bomber, with a Mach 4 / 4,250 km/hr cruise capability at 25,000 to 27,000 m altitude. It was equipped with two turboramjets,...more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mustard
|
The British Aircraft Corporation "Multi-Unit Space Transport And Recovery Device" design of 1964-1965 was a winged two-stage-to-orbit reuseable space shuttle using...more.
|
|
|
|
|
Norma
|
Semi-reusable vertically launched two-stage-to-orbit vehicle. The flight profile featured a reusable flyback booster launched from a modular launch platform, an...more.
|
|
|
|
|
Orel
|
In the late 1990's the Russian space industry undertook the Orel programme to evaluate technology for future launch vehicles. The goals included evaluation of possible...more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Oriflamme
|
French design for a scramjet-powered horizontal takeoff / horizontal landing, single stage to orbit vehicle....more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Radiance
|
Two stage to orbit horizontal takeoff / horizontal landing vehicle. Booster would be powered by scramjets to Mach 12 separation before second stage separated....more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
RAE Orbital Fighter
|
The Royal Aircraft Establishment Orbital Fighter proposal of the 1960's envisioned a two stage vehicle. A ramjet powered first stage would release a second stage...more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
RAE TSTO
|
The Royal Aircraft Establishment Two Stage To Orbit (TSTO) Concept of the 1960's consisted of a hypersonic air-breathing first stage and rocket powered second stage....more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
RBSS
|
The Recoverable Booster Space System was a plan circulated in the early 1960's to use the XB-70 as a recoverable supersonic first stage for a range of systems....more.
|
|
|
|
|
Recoverable Booster Systems for Orbital Logistics
|
Lockheed investigated the economics of reusable launch vehicles for crews and light space station cargo during the early 1960s. Anticipated manned space activities...more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
RWDT HTHL
|
Under the Future European Space Transportation Investigation Programme (FESTIP) of 1994-1999 French agencies and contractors designed a number of alternative reusable...more.
|
|
|
|
|
Saenger
|
Saenger-Bredt antipodal bomber - sled launched, boosted to suborbital velocity, 'skips' off upper atmosphere to deliver bombload on target, recovery back at launch...more.
|
|
|
|
|
Saenger I
|
Final version of the Saenger spaceplane, as conceived by Eugen Saenger during his lifetime. A rocket propelled sled would be used for horizontal launch of delta-winged,...more.
|
|
|
|
|
Saenger II
|
Proposed two stage to orbit vehicle. Air-breathing hypersonic first stage and delta wing second stage. The German Hypersonics Programme and its Saenger II reference...more.
|
|
|
|
|
Shuttle
|
The manned reusable space system which was designed to slash the cost of space transport and replace all expendable launch vehicles. It did neither, but did keep...more.
|
|
|
|
|
Skylon
|
British single-stage-to-orbit, horizontal-takeoff-horizontal-landing turborocket orbital launch vehicle design of the mid-1990's. The novel lightweight structural...more.
|
|
|
|
|
Spacebus
|
The Bristol Spaceplanes Spacebus was a Two Stage To Orbit (TSTO) Manned Spaceplane, with an airbreathing supersonic / hypersonic, delta winged first stage and a...more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Spacecab
|
The Bristol Spaceplanes Spacecab was a Two Stage To Orbit (TSTO) Manned Spaceplane, with an airbreathing supersonic / hypersonic, delta winged first stage and a...more.
|
|
|
|
|
Spacemaster
|
Martin-Marrietta shuttle Phase A design. X-24B type lifting body orbiter with unique catamaran-configuration booster....more.
|
|
|
|
|
Spiral 50-50
|
The Soviet Air Force had an enduring interest in a horizontal takeoff/horizontal landing, manned, reusable space launch system that could ferry crews and priority...more.
|
|
|
|
|
STAR-H
|
Mach 6 hypersonic first stage would launch Hermes spaceplane with an expendable second stage....more.
|
|
|
|
|
Star-raker
|
Rockwell International's Star-raker was an enormous 1979 heavy-lift ramjet/rocket horizontal takeoff/horizontal landing single-stage-to-orbit concept capable of...more.
|
|
|
|
|
Starclipper
|
Lockheed ILRV design created for the USAF in 1966. X-24B lifting body configuration orbiter with linear aerospike engine and wrap-around drop tank. Related to Lockheed Shuttle LS200 proposal....more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Starclipper Light
|
Downsized version of the Starclipper, equipped with conventional bell nozzle engines, released by NASA for public consumption in 1968....more.
|
|
|
|
|
STS-2000 SSTO
|
Single stage to orbit ramjet/rocket mix power horizontal takeoff / horizontal landing study of the 1980's....more.
|
|
|
|
|
STS-2000 TSTO
|
Two stage to orbit horizontal takeoff / horizontal landing variant of STS-2000. Ramjet/rocket mixed power first stage. Mach 6 separation of rocket-powered second stage. French study of the 1980's....more.
|
|
|
|
|
TARANIS
|
French study of vertical takeoff / horizontal landing, two stage to orbit launch vehicle with expendable orbiter fuel tanks....more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
TAV
|
USAF program of the 1980's that reached the test hardware stage and was leading to a single-stage-to-orbit, rocket-powered, winged manned vehicle. Halted in favour...more.
|
|
|
|
|
Themis
|
Themis was a planned ESA booster stage demonstrator, to validate integrated propellant tank technology necessary for a reusable Ariane 5 successor. The demonstrator...more.
|
|
|
|
|
Tier One
|
Burt Rutan's Tier One was the second manned reusable suborbital launch system (after the B-52/X-15). But it was developed privately at a small fraction of the cost....more.
|
|
|
|
|
Triamese
|
The General Dynamics proposed an ingenious "Triamese" concept for the US Air Force "Integral Launch & Re-entry Vehicle" program. This system (originally developed...more.
|
|
|
|
|
Tsien Spaceplane 1949
|
In 1949 Tsien Hsue-shen, the leading expert in high-speed aerodynamics working in America, applied the knowledge learned from German rocket developments to the...more.
|
|
|
|
|
Tu-2000
|
This Soviet equivalent to the US X-30 single-stage-to-orbit scramjet aerospaceplane began development in1986. Three versions were planned: a Mach 6 test vehicle,...more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
V-2 VTOHL
|
The V-2 vertical takeoff / horizontal landing two-stage reusable space shuttle was proposed by Beijing Department 11 of the Air Ministry in 1988. The first stage...more.
|
|
|
|
|
X-33
|
NASA-sponsored suborbital unmanned prototype for a single-stage-to-orbit rocketplane. The Lockheed Martin vehicle would have used a linear aerospike engine, metallic...more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Astro
|
Douglas design of the early 1960's for a two-stage-to-orbit, winged, recoverable vehicle. Two versions were envisioned - a preliminary one the size of a DC-8 and...more.
|
|
|
|
