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#1 2005-04-06 10:43:03
- SpaceNut
- Administrator
- From: New Hampshire
- Registered: 2004-07-22
- Posts: 29,436
Re: SpaceDev small launch vehicle Begins Development - SpaceDev Streaker Hybrid Upper Stage roc
SpaceDev has signed a lease to expand its fabrication and test facilities
A mobile SpaceDev test support trailer is being designed to carry test tanks and conditioning equipment to move, maintain and store various quantities of nitrous oxide (laughing gas), used as the oxidizer in SpaceDev's safe, non-exploding, rubber-burning rocket motors.
Yes this is the same hybird motor rubber toy burner but only larger than that to which was used on spaceshipone.
Under an Air Force Research Laboratory contract announced last October, SpaceDev has designed and will begin development of the SpaceDev Streaker Hybrid Upper Stage rocket motor.
This motor is expected to produce approximately 20,000 pounds of thrust, in contrast to the 15,000 pounds of thrust produced by SpaceDev's hybrid rocket motor technology for Paul Allen's SpaceShipOne.
So he is moving forward with his SpaceDev Dream Chaser which is slated to use many of the items being designed for the miltary.
We are currently scheduling the first Hybrid Upper Stage motor firing for later this summer," said Benson.
"We are working closely with our Air Force customer, and hope to soon begin work designing and developing the Small Common Booster motor for SpaceDev Streaker."
Last September, SpaceDev announced that it was exploring designs for safe and affordable manned, sub-orbital and orbital space flight.
Hopefully the next push will be for orbital flight not just a simple what goes up must come down....
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