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[Time Published September 18, 2013 at 06:39AM]
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The reusable spacecraft we’ve seen so far haven’t really lived up to their billing: vehicles like the Space Shuttle or SpaceShipTwo require elaborate, expensive launches. If DARPA succeeds with its just-announced XS-1 program, however, spaceflight could be an affordable, everyday occurrence. The agency plans to develop an unmanned spacecraft that requires a minimal ground crew, reaches speeds above Mach 10 and flies at least 10 times in as many days. Provided DARPA meets its goals, XS-1 would both speed up the deployment of small satellites and lower the cost per flight to an “aircraft-like” $5 million or less. Don’t count on seeing a ship in action anytime soon, though. DARPA will only receive some of the first design proposals on October 7th, and someone still has to build the winning project — it will likely be years before XS-1 slips the surly bonds of Earth.
Filed under: Transportation
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Source: DARPA
The post DARPA’s XS-1 program aims for an unmanned spaceship with aircraft-like costs appeared first on AIVAnet.
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[Source: http://www.aivanet.com/2013/09/darpas-xs-1-program-aims-for-an-unmanned-spaceship-with-aircraft-like-costs/] | Image URL: http://aivanet.cdn.aivanet.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/darpa-xs-1.jpg]
[Time Published September 18, 2013 at 06:39AM]
[<-- Content]
The reusable spacecraft we’ve seen so far haven’t really lived up to their billing: vehicles like the Space Shuttle or SpaceShipTwo require elaborate, expensive launches. If DARPA succeeds with its just-announced XS-1 program, however, spaceflight could be an affordable, everyday occurrence. The agency plans to develop an unmanned spacecraft that requires a minimal ground crew, reaches speeds above Mach 10 and flies at least 10 times in as many days. Provided DARPA meets its goals, XS-1 would both speed up the deployment of small satellites and lower the cost per flight to an “aircraft-like” $5 million or less. Don’t count on seeing a ship in action anytime soon, though. DARPA will only receive some of the first design proposals on October 7th, and someone still has to build the winning project — it will likely be years before XS-1 slips the surly bonds of Earth.
Filed under: Transportation
Comments
Source: DARPA
The post DARPA’s XS-1 program aims for an unmanned spaceship with aircraft-like costs appeared first on AIVAnet.
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[Source: http://www.aivanet.com/2013/09/darpas-xs-1-program-aims-for-an-unmanned-spaceship-with-aircraft-like-costs/] | Image URL: http://aivanet.cdn.aivanet.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/darpa-xs-1.jpg]
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