Encyclopedia Astronautica
Black Horse


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Black Horse
Credit: © Mark Wade
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Black Horse
Black Horse Launch Vehicle 3 View
Credit: © Mark Wade
American air-launched winged orbital launch vehicle. Winged, single stage to orbit launch vehicle using aerial refueling and lower performance, non-cryogenic propellants. Takes off from runway at 22,000 kg gross weight; rendezvous with tanker to load 66,760 kg oxidizer; then flies to orbit.

LEO Payload: 450 kg (990 lb) to a 200 km orbit.

Stage Data - Black Horse

  • Stage 1. 1 x Black Horse. Gross Mass: 83,560 kg (184,210 lb). Empty Mass: 6,883 kg (15,174 lb). Thrust (vac): 443.191 kN (99,633 lbf). Isp: 335 sec. Burn time: 560 sec. Diameter: 6.30 m (20.60 ft). Span: 39.50 m (129.50 ft). Length: 57.50 m (188.60 ft). Propellants: H2O2/Kerosene. No Engines: 7. Engine: JP-5/H2O2. Status: Study, USAF, 1993. Comments: Winged, single stage to orbit launch vehicle using aerial refueling and lower performance, non-cryogenic propellants. Takes off from runway at 48,452 lbs gross weight; rendezvous with tanker to load 146,870 lbs oxidizer; then flies to orbit.

Status: Study 1993.
Gross mass: 84,100 kg (185,400 lb).
Payload: 450 kg (990 lb).
Height: 69.00 m (226.00 ft).
Diameter: 6.30 m (20.60 ft).
Thrust: 443.19 kN (99,633 lbf).
Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

More... - Chronology...
Associated Countries
Associated Spacecraft
  • Black Horse American manned spaceplane. Study 1994. Winged, single stage to orbit launch vehicle using aerial refueling and lower performance, non-cryogenic propellants. More...
Associated Engines
  • JP-5/H2O2 Notional H2O2/Kerosene rocket engine. 63 kN. Study 1993. Isp=335s. Engine for Black Horse winged, single stage to orbit launch vehicle using aerial refueling. More...
See also
  • Winged In the beginning, nobody (except Jules Verne) thought anybody would be travelling to space and back in ballistic cannon balls. The only proper way for a space voyager to return to earth was at the controls of a real winged airplane. More...
Bibliography
  • Zubrin, Robert M, and Clapp, Mitchell B, "Black Horse: One Stop to Orbit", Black Horse Web Site, Web Address when accessed: here.
Associated Stages
  • Black Horse H2O2/Kerosene propellant rocket stage. Loaded/empty mass 83,560/6,883 kg. Thrust 443.19 kN. Vacuum specific impulse 335 seconds. Winged, single stage to orbit launch vehicle using aerial refueling and lower performance, non-cryogenic propellants. Takes off from runway at 48,452 lbs gross weight; rendezvous with tanker to load 146,870 lbs oxidizer; then flies to orbit. More...
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