Posted on 04/02/2017 11:13:50 AM PDT by BenLurkin
It’s known as the Haas 2CA, the latest in a series of rockets being developed by the New Mexico-based aerospace company. If all goes as planned, this rocket will be the first SSTO rocket in history, meaning it will be able to place payloads and crew into Earth’s orbit relying on only one stage with one engine.
The rocket was unveiled on Tuesday, March 28th, at their company headquarters in Las Cruces. The rocket is currently seeking FAA approval, and ARCA is working diligently to get it ready for its test launch in 2018 – which will take place at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility located on Virginia’s eastern shore. If successful, the company hopes to use this rocket to deploy small satellites to orbit in the coming decade.
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Relying on single stage and single Executor engine, this rocket will small satellites into orbit. The rocket is fueled by hydrogen peroxide and kerosene (which combines to create a nontoxic fuel), and measures (53 feet) long and (5 feet) in diameter.
The 2C weights about 550 kg (1210 pounds) empty, and 16280 kg (35,887 pounds) when fully fueled. It will also be able to provide 22900 kg (50,500 lbs) of thrust at sea level, and about 33,565 kg (74,000 lbs) in a vacuum.
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To prepare the rocket for its 2018 launch, ARCA is currently collaborating with NASA through its Cooperative Opportunity Program and with the help of the Ames, Kennedy, Marshall, Stennis, and Johnson Space Centers. Popescu is also entering into discussions with the New Mexico Spaceport Authority to conduct launches from Spaceport America, and is looking to secure a partnership with a US defense agency.
(Excerpt) Read more at universetoday.com ...
ARCA has gone from race cars to rockets?????
“Relying on single stage and single Executor engine, this rocket will small satellites into orbit.”
Englass fhail.
Will small satellites in orbit?
Okay..
Yes, they forgot the "s" in the word "wills."
It should have read "This rocket wills small satellites into orbit."
The rocket uses the power of its will to put the satellites into orbit.
/S :^)
I kinda figured.
;-)
Once it is in orbit and it has delivered its payload, the only place for it to go is back to earth.
"This opens new frontiers for exploration of the Solar System as the rocket can be refueled in-orbit and re-utilize its aerospike engine thus eliminating the need for additional upper stages."
They eschew the need for extra stages and then decide that an additional vehicle is necessary for refueling. What good is that if no refueling vehicle is available. Also not very good for higher orbits or polar orbits.
Usually the plug nozzle, what they call an aerospike, is more truncated. Usually cooling of the extremity is an issue.
Once it is in orbit and has delivered its payload, it will be in orbit, and not fall back to earth. This is what they were talking about with the refueling. Once they have some rockets hanging out in space, they can bring up fuel and get it to travel further out. You can go a lot farther on a tank when you start from orbit rather than on the ground, and the engine makes more power to boot.
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