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#1 2016-06-07 19:29:29
- Tom Kalbfus
- Banned
- Registered: 2006-08-16
- Posts: 4,401
Watch two new mini-rockets launch and hover in the air
Watch two new mini-rockets launch and hover in the air
They're the latest prototypes from Masten Space Systems
By Loren Grush
on June 7, 2016 04:38 pm
@lorengrush
http://www.theverge.com/2016/6/7/118779 … yptr=yahoo
Aerospace startup Masten Space Systems just introduced two new additions to the company's long line of reusable rockets and landers. The vehicles are called Xaero-B and Xodiac, continuing the company's tradition of assigning X-names to its products. A new video of the rockets shows how the two prototypes can launch from the ground and then hover in place — a feat known as "station keeping." The craft can also lower down and gently land upright on the ground to be used for future flights; it's similar to how SpaceX and Blue Origin's vehicles land, but on a much, much smaller scale.
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The vehicles can land vertically on very precise targets
Based out of Mojave, California, Masten Space Systems has made a name for itself making small rocket-powered landers that can take off and land vertically. The vehicles are also known for landing on very precise targets. Because of this, one of Masten's landers won a $1 million NASA-sponsored competition in 2009 for its potential as a lunar lander. None of the company's rockets have gone to space just yet, but Masten was just recently given $3 million by DARPA to develop a reusable spaceplane that can launch satellites into orbit.
In the meantime, Masten will continue to test out rocket-powered take-offs and landings with the Xaero-B and Xodiac. The company claims the Xaero-B can fly up to altitudes around 3.7 miles high. Masten will offer up the two prototypes to companies looking to test out potential space technologies on rocket-powered vehicles. These types of landers offer up a unique testing environment for companies, since they can descend very rapidly from high altitudes, unlike helicopters.
I was thinking of the Movie Everest, in that movie they had to rescue an injured climber who made his way down from the Mountain to Base Camp, and helicopter flew up and could barely attain that altitude because of the thin air, but a rocket, such as the one shown in the video easily could. I wonder if Mastern Space System could sell a rescue rocket similar to the ones shown to help injured climbers get down from Mount Everest, where helicopters can't reach?
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#2 2016-06-07 21:02:56
- SpaceNut
- Administrator
- From: New Hampshire
- Registered: 2004-07-22
- Posts: 29,436
Re: Watch two new mini-rockets launch and hover in the air
I remeber Masten wins $1M XPRIZE competition for Xoie lander which others that are now part of the up and coming have been part of....
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masten_Space_Systems
It does look like the design for the U.S. military's new XS-1 experimental space plane.
Test flight back in July 17, 2014...
Masten Space Systems is one of three companies working on the requirements for the U.S. military's Experimental Spaceplane (XS-1), there was one requirement he knew his company could definitely meet: flying 10 times in 10 days.
Last month, the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) awarded 12-month study contracts to Masten, Boeing and Northrop Grumman for the companies to define how they would design, build and fly their entrants in the XS-1 program.
This is the eventual end...
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#3 2016-06-08 10:57:15
- Tom Kalbfus
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- Registered: 2006-08-16
- Posts: 4,401
Re: Watch two new mini-rockets launch and hover in the air
If it is supposed to land vertically, why does it have delta wings?
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