The hypersonic autonomous jet launches vertically and lands horizontally
Boeing has been given approval to build and test its reusable military XS-1 spaceplane, which will be capable of launching into space at extremely short notice.
The go-ahead was given by DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency), the US Department of Defense’s technological research wing. While strategic launches, such as satellite deployments, currently take months, or even years, of preparation, the jet – now known as ‘Phantom Express’ would be ready for launch in just days. This would provide a boost to national security, says DARPA. To make this possible, XS-1 designers will deploy technologies previously used to improve the reliability and fast turnaround of military aircraft.
The XS-1 program envisions a fully reusable unmanned vehicle, roughly the size of a business jet, which would take off vertically like a rocket and fly to hypersonic speeds. The vehicle would be launched with no external boosters, powered solely by self-contained cryogenic propellants. Upon reaching a high suborbital altitude, the booster would release an expendable upper stage able to deploy a 3,000-pound satellite to polar orbit. The reusable first stage would then bank and return to Earth, landing horizontally like an aircraft, and be prepared for the next flight, potentially within hours.
"The XS-1 would be neither a traditional plane nor a conventional launch vehicle but rather a combination of the two, with the goal of lowering launch costs by a factor of ten and replacing today’s frustratingly long wait time with launch on demand," said Jess Sponable, DARPA program manager.
"We’re very pleased with Boeing’s progress on the XS-1 through Phase 1 of the program and look forward to continuing our close collaboration in this newly funded progression to Phases 2 and 3—fabrication and flight." Phase 2 includes design, construction and testing of the technology throughout 2019. This will include firing the vehicle’s engine on the ground 10 times over 10 days.
Phase 3 will involve 12 to 15 test flights, which are currently scheduled for 2020. Initial flights will begin at speeds of Mach 5, while later flights will be pushed to Mach 10. The spaceplane would take off vertically like a rocket, using VTOL-style technology, powered by self-contained cryogenic propellants, with no external boosters. On reaching a high suborbital altitude, an expendable upper stage would be released, capable of deploying a satellite. The reusable first stage would then return to Earth, landing horizontally like a plane. It could be ready for another flight within hours. Autonomous flights will be powered using systems developed by DARPA.
Once the spaceplane is eventually ready, it will cost an estimated $5 million or less per launch, based on at least 10 launches per year. This is a fraction of what the US military currently uses for similar strategic launches.
"We’re delighted to see this truly futuristic capability coming closer to reality," said Brad Tousley, director of DARPA’s Tactical Technology Office (TTO), which oversees XS-1.
"Demonstration of aircraft-like, on-demand and routine access to space is important for meeting critical Defense Department needs and could help open the door to a range of next-generation commercial opportunities.” After testing is complete, non-government firms will be able to use XS-1 technologies. DARPA will release selected data from the final testing phases of the XS-1 programme to commercial companies. "Phantom Express is designed to disrupt and transform the satellite launch process as we know it today, creating a new, on-demand space-launch capability that can be achieved more affordably and with less risk," said Darryl Davis, president, Boeing Phantom Works.
In May, Nasa successfully landed the autonomous X-37B spaceplane, which was also built by Boeing, after a massive 718 days in orbit.