Winged, first stage of a launch vehicle using aerial refueling and existing engines. Takes off from runway; rendezvous with tanker to load oxidizer; then flies to Mach 12/150 nm to release Star 48V second stage and 450 kg payload. In comparison to Black Horse, uses existing engines and a much more achievable mass fraction by only flying to half orbital speed.

LEO Payload: 450 kg (990 lb). to: 200 km Orbit. Associated Spacecraft: Black Colt. Liftoff Thrust: 402.050 kN (90,384 lbf). Total Mass: 43,160 kg (95,150 lb). Core Diameter: 4.60 m (15.00 ft). Total Length: 48.00 m (157.00 ft). Flyaway Unit Cost $: 4.100 million. in: 1985 unit dollars.

• Stage Number: 1. 1 x Stage: Black Colt. Gross Mass: 40,482 kg (89,247 lb). Empty Mass: 8,283 kg (18,260 lb). Thrust (vac): 402.053 kN (90,385 lbf). Isp: 353 sec. Burn time: 275 sec. Diameter: 4.60 m (15.00 ft). Span: 24.40 m (80.00 ft). Length: 39.60 m (129.90 ft). Propellants: Lox/Kerosene. No Engines: 1. Engine: NK-31. Status: Study 1993. Winged, first stage of a launch vehicle using aerial refueling and existing engines. Takes off from runway; rendezvous with tanker to load oxidizer; then flies to Mach 12/150 nm to release Star 48V second stage and 450 kg payload. 2 x F125 turbofans for flight to tanker, subsonic ferry, and go-around capability on return.

• Stage Number: 2. 1 x Stage: PAM-D. Gross Mass: 2,141 kg (4,720 lb). Empty Mass: 232 kg (511 lb). Thrust (vac): 67.155 kN (15,097 lbf). Isp: 292 sec. Burn time: 88 sec. Isp(sl): 0 sec. Diameter: 1.24 m (4.06 ft). Span: 1.24 m (4.06 ft). Length: 2.04 m (6.69 ft). Propellants: Solid. No Engines: 1. Engine: Star 48. Other designations: TE-M-711-18.

• Zubrin, Robert M, and Clapp, Mitchell B, Black Horse Web Site, "Black Horse: One Stop to Orbit", . Accessed at: http://www.im.lcs.mit.edu/bh/analog.html.