User:Carbonrodney/sr

SCIENCE DAWN

SCIENCE DAWN was a classified program, based on a 1982 Boeing proposal, to build a sled-launched horizontal-takeoff / horizontal-landing [HTHL] single stage to orbit [SSTO] launch vehicle. However, by 1986 it became clear that horizontal takeoff requirement was an inappropriate application of rocket thrust-to-weight ratio, which was better applied to vertical takeoff. Consequently, SCIENCE DAWN ended, and the focus transferred to SCIENCE REALM.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/science_dawn.htm

Science Dawn

A classified program, based on a 1982 Boeing proposal, to build a sled-launched horizontal-takeoff / horizontal-landing single stage to orbit (SSTO) launch vehicle. Three hand-picked design teams participated. By 1984 it had become clear that horizontal takeoff was inappropriate use of rocket power, and the program was abandoned.

The Boeing Reusable AeroSpace Vehicle (RASV) comprised a ground-based sled to accelerate the aircraft to takeoff speed on a conventional runway, and a delta-winged, piloted orbital vehicle. The RASV was designed to be constructed of conventional refractory metals such as titanium and Rene-41, with the cryogenic liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellants contained withing the "hot structure" wing acting as a heat sink to cool the airframe and reduce weight (by largely eliminating heavy insulation materials). Powered by two modified Space Shuttle Main Engines, the RASV attracted considerable attention from the Air Force, which invested $3 million in the project for technology development in the early 1980s. In December 1982 Boeing chairman T.A. Wilson gave the RASV effort a go-ahead to build a $1.4 billion half scale prototype vehicle. As it turned out, both the USAF and Boeing funds allocated for the RASV went to the development and redesign work of the B-2 bomber instead.

Science Realm

The program was initiated in 1984 as a follow-on to Science Dawn. In contrast to Science Dawn, which stressed horizontal takeoff, Science Realm investigated vertical takeoff SSTO designs, capitalizing on the high thrust-to-weight ratio of a rocket engine.

Have Region

In 1986 Science Realm was followed by the Have Region program, to complement the ongoing air-breathing work in the NASP program. Under the program three prototype lightweight structures were fabricated primarily from exotic metals to evaluate near-term flight readiness. Although the results were generally promising, in 1988 it was concluded that the materials developed for the NASP were more promising.

http://personal.inet.fi/cool/foxfour/black/past.html Air Force interest in military spaceplanes stretches back nearly 40 years. This has taken the form of science and technology development, design and mission studies, and engineering development programs. Examples of these activities include: the first Aerospaceplane program and Dyna-Soar/X-20 program (late 1950s-early 1960s); X-15 hypersonic and X-24 lifting body flight test programs (late 1950s through early 1970s); Advanced Military Space Flight Capability (AMSC), Transatmospheric Vehicle (TAV), and Military Aerospace Vehicle (MAV) concept and mission studies (early 1980s); the Copper Canyon airbreathing single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) feasibility assessment and the National Aerospace Plane (NASP) program (1984-1992); SCIENCE DAWN, SCIENCE REALM, and HAVE REGION rocket-powered SSTO feasibility assessments and technology demonstration programs (late 1980s); and, most recently, the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization's Single-Stage Rocket Technology program that built the Delta Clipper-Experimental (DC-X) experimental reusable spaceplane.

http://www.fas.org/spp/military/program/launch/msp.htm