Author Topic: DARPA Experimental Spaceplane 1 (XS-1) Program  (Read 419554 times)

Offline Comga

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Re: DARPA Experimental Spaceplane 1 (XS-1) Program
« Reply #740 on: 07/16/2017 03:01 am »
...
The X38 was slated to have a "flush mount" ADS with more pressure sensing pipes to cope with the surface geometry effects of being mounted in the nose. I think the X37b also uses such a system.

In principal these systems can operate to much higher Mach numbers, giving a much better idea of aerodynamic forces on the vehicle. I'm not sure if the X37b has been remote piloted during its landings or if this ability to more accurately generate air data has made that unnecessary.

I'm guessing some of the future vehicles like the SR-72 and any Reaction Engines Limited derivatives might use something like the BAE LASSI system, unless it's still 5 years away by the time those programs go into full development.  That's assuming that technology solves some of the high mach issues.  It might be coming too late for XS-1...
http://www.baesystems.com/en/blog/lassi-laser-air-speed-sensing-instrument

Ha!
"laser airspeed sensor "
I was offered a job to develop a system like this some 35 years ago.
Seemed beyond the technology then.  Seems intuitively obvious now.
But do we have any information that Boeing will actually use such a system?  For XS-1 or X-37? You are just guessing, you say.   
What kind of wastrels would dump a perfectly good booster in the ocean after just one use?

Offline john smith 19

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Re: DARPA Experimental Spaceplane 1 (XS-1) Program
« Reply #741 on: 07/16/2017 04:21 pm »
...
The X38 was slated to have a "flush mount" ADS with more pressure sensing pipes to cope with the surface geometry effects of being mounted in the nose. I think the X37b also uses such a system.

In principal these systems can operate to much higher Mach numbers, giving a much better idea of aerodynamic forces on the vehicle. I'm not sure if the X37b has been remote piloted during its landings or if this ability to more accurately generate air data has made that unnecessary.

I'm guessing some of the future vehicles like the SR-72 and any Reaction Engines Limited derivatives might use something like the BAE LASSI system, unless it's still 5 years away by the time those programs go into full development.  That's assuming that technology solves some of the high mach issues.  It might be coming too late for XS-1...
http://www.baesystems.com/en/blog/lassi-laser-air-speed-sensing-instrument
As I noted flush mount ADS is a real thing now. It's been built and was tested as far back as some of the early Shuttle test flights, also on some of the ET's . AFAIK it's being used on the X37b now.

In the context of XS-1 available-now beats very-accurate-but-needs-a-decade-of-work by a very wide margin.

For any sort of aero-space plane air data sensing is a tough problem.  A pitot probe is an excellent shape to induce lots of turbulent heating and is quite small, so not good at getting rid of heat.

My instinct for a design solution would be something like the system used by some gas meters, ultrasonic Doppler sensing. Sending the signals through the walls of the vehicle would complicate things, but those effects could be calibrated or nulled out. The issue would be at what point the air gets too thin to give a reliable signal. However at this point you would probably be leaving the atmosphere anyway. During re-entry ionisation would start to build up and you could probably borrow techniques from the plasma diagnostics people to measure a set of flows which would give you air data information.

Both such systems would be very short range, and hence more "stealthy" than a UV laser, which would be very alien in the night sky.  :(
« Last Edit: 07/17/2017 04:35 pm by john smith 19 »
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Offline Comga

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Re: DARPA Experimental Spaceplane 1 (XS-1) Program
« Reply #742 on: 09/22/2017 02:27 am »
(snip)
Both such systems would be very short range, and hence more "stealthy" than a UV laser, which would be very alien in the night sky.  :(

A UV laser would be far more than stealthy.  It wouldn't be a light show.  Perhaps a few watts with strong atmospheric scattering and attenuation, pointed in specific and changing directions.  No one is going to intercept that.

And it's on a rocket.  Rockets are as far from stealthy as one can imagine.

But this is all speculation with regards to the XS-1. 
What kind of wastrels would dump a perfectly good booster in the ocean after just one use?

Offline Ronsmytheiii

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Re: DARPA Experimental Spaceplane 1 (XS-1) Program
« Reply #743 on: 10/10/2017 10:40 pm »
Florida Todayreporting that Boeing is most likely negotiating with Space Florida to launch XS-1 from CCAFS, most likely either from LC-16 or -20:

http://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2017/10/09/state-talks-bring-new-launch-system-space-coast/747875001/

Offline envy887

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Re: DARPA Experimental Spaceplane 1 (XS-1) Program
« Reply #744 on: 10/11/2017 12:21 am »
Florida Todayreporting that Boeing is most likely negotiating with Space Florida to launch XS-1 from CCAFS, most likely either from LC-16 or -20:

http://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2017/10/09/state-talks-bring-new-launch-system-space-coast/747875001/

Huh. Where are they going to land the booster?

Offline russianhalo117

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Re: DARPA Experimental Spaceplane 1 (XS-1) Program
« Reply #745 on: 10/11/2017 03:17 am »
Florida Todayreporting that Boeing is most likely negotiating with Space Florida to launch XS-1 from CCAFS, most likely either from LC-16 or -20:

http://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2017/10/09/state-talks-bring-new-launch-system-space-coast/747875001/

Huh. Where are they going to land the booster?
Skid strip and SLF are the already reserved options as of a while ago. Also the mentions Pads were announced a mere week after the XS-1 Boeing announcement so none of this is new information.

Offline envy887

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Re: DARPA Experimental Spaceplane 1 (XS-1) Program
« Reply #746 on: 10/11/2017 03:25 am »
Florida Todayreporting that Boeing is most likely negotiating with Space Florida to launch XS-1 from CCAFS, most likely either from LC-16 or -20:

http://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2017/10/09/state-talks-bring-new-launch-system-space-coast/747875001/

Huh. Where are they going to land the booster?
Skid strip and SLF are the already reserved options as of a while ago. Also the mentions Pads were announced a mere week after the XS-1 Boeing announcement so none of this is new information.
It has enough crossrange to enter the atmosphere at Mach 10+ going downrange, turn completely around, and glide back to the Cape?

Offline russianhalo117

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Re: DARPA Experimental Spaceplane 1 (XS-1) Program
« Reply #747 on: 10/11/2017 03:35 am »
Florida Todayreporting that Boeing is most likely negotiating with Space Florida to launch XS-1 from CCAFS, most likely either from LC-16 or -20:

http://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2017/10/09/state-talks-bring-new-launch-system-space-coast/747875001/

Huh. Where are they going to land the booster?
Skid strip and SLF are the already reserved options as of a while ago. Also the mentions Pads were announced a mere week after the XS-1 Boeing announcement so none of this is new information.
It has enough crossrange to enter the atmosphere at Mach 10+ going downrange, turn completely around, and glide back to the Cape?


I'll just leave these quotes of DARPA and Boeing Statements


https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/06/13/boeing-darpa-to-base-xs-1-spaceplane-at-cape-canaveral/

Boeing, DARPA to base XS-1 spaceplane at Cape Canaveral
Quote
A reusable suborbital spaceplane the size of a business jet being developed by Boeing and the Defense Department’s research and development arm could be launching and landing at Cape Canaveral in 2020, officials said after the defense contractor won a competition last month to design and test the vehicle.
Quote
The spacecraft booster would return to land at one of two runways on Florida’s Space Coast: Kennedy Space Center’s Shuttle Landing Facility, a three-mile-long landing strip, or the Skid Strip at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
Quote
“We conducted trade studies with Blue Origin in the first phase of the program,” Sampson wrote in an email to Spaceflight Now. “Boeing selected the Aerojet Rocketdyne engine for this next phase as it offers a flight proven, reusable engine to meet the DARPA mission requirements.”
Quote
Aerojet Rocketdyne said it will provide two engines for the XS-1 program with “legacy shuttle flight experience to demonstrate reusability, a wide operating range and rapid turnarounds.”
Quote
The Phantom Express booster stage will have advanced, lightweight composite cryogenic tanks to hold the super-cold propellants feeding the AR-22 engine. Hybrid metallic-composite wings and control surfaces on the spaceplane will be fitted with “third-generation thermal protection” to withstand the rigors of hypersonic flight and re-entry temperatures of more than 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit (1,100 degrees Celsius), according to DARPA and Boeing.


Offline Bob Shaw

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Re: DARPA Experimental Spaceplane 1 (XS-1) Program
« Reply #748 on: 10/21/2017 02:28 pm »
Regarding BAE Systems and their buy-in to Reaction Engines, remember that REL was originally an offshoot of British Aerospace, or BAe - one of BAE Systems predecessor businesses. This buy-in must always have been on the cards!

Offline yg1968

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Re: DARPA Experimental Spaceplane 1 (XS-1) Program
« Reply #749 on: 10/25/2017 12:35 pm »
Here is an interesting article on XS-1 and other related topics: "DARPA Ties XS-1 Military Space Plane Project to National Security":
https://www.space.com/38558-darpa-spaceplane-will-protect-national-security.html?
« Last Edit: 10/25/2017 12:37 pm by yg1968 »

Offline Elmar Moelzer

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Re: DARPA Experimental Spaceplane 1 (XS-1) Program
« Reply #750 on: 10/31/2017 06:09 am »
Here is an interesting article on XS-1 and other related topics: "DARPA Ties XS-1 Military Space Plane Project to National Security":
https://www.space.com/38558-darpa-spaceplane-will-protect-national-security.html?
2020... I predict that the program will face some "minor" delays and cost overruns, pushing it past 2020. By then a new administration will seize the opportunity to cancel it. Nothing will have been achieved other than  a giant waste of tax dollars. But nobody will care and 8 years later, another administration will do another program like this. Large defense contractors need their contracts.
« Last Edit: 10/31/2017 06:11 am by Elmar Moelzer »

Offline john smith 19

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Re: DARPA Experimental Spaceplane 1 (XS-1) Program
« Reply #751 on: 10/31/2017 06:29 am »
Here is an interesting article on XS-1 and other related topics: "DARPA Ties XS-1 Military Space Plane Project to National Security":
https://www.space.com/38558-darpa-spaceplane-will-protect-national-security.html?
2020... I predict that the program will face some "minor" delays and cost overruns, pushing it past 2020. By then a new administration will seize the opportunity to cancel it. Nothing will have been achieved other than  a giant waste of tax dollars. But nobody will care and 8 years later, another administration will do another program like this. Large defense contractors need their contracts.
It'll depend on how well the next stage is funded and how it's managed.

Sponable's work on DC-X was driven by a clear need as SDI wanted to deploy several large constellations (of defense satellites) and they found a team (at Douglas) who really wanted to do RLV and didn't have a major LV of their own who they'd be in competition with.

Time will tell if they get a team together who can do this at Boeing, or if they get a replay of the X33 story.  :(

Keep in mind DC-X got to M3 25 years ago. I think VTHL is a very odd choice for the design but presumably they think they can make it work and it will lower landing gear weight, always a concern on HTO systems.

Engines are usually big ticket items and those new-build-but-old-parts "AJ25"s [EDIT. Oops. "AR22", but still an SSME) don't sound cheap. You have to wonder if Blue was used as "Bid candy," with no intention of using them.

If so that says a lot about the seriousness of Boeing's intentions. None of it good.  :(
« Last Edit: 10/31/2017 07:52 am by john smith 19 »
MCT ITS BFR SS. The worlds first Methane fueled FFSC engined CFRP SS structure A380 sized aerospaceplane tail sitter capable of Earth & Mars atmospheric flight.First flight to Mars by end of 2022 TBC. T&C apply. Trust nothing. Run your own #s "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof" R. Simberg."Competitve" means cheaper ¬cheap SCramjet proposed 1956. First +ve thrust 2004. US R&D spend to date > $10Bn. #deployed designs. Zero.

Offline TrevorMonty

Re: DARPA Experimental Spaceplane 1 (XS-1) Program
« Reply #752 on: 10/31/2017 08:51 am »
Boeing should be able do XS1, there is nothing in it they havn't done before. Vertical takeoff LH LOX LV, Delta 4. Horizontal landing spaceplane, X37 which has higher reentry speed.


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Offline Star One

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Re: DARPA Experimental Spaceplane 1 (XS-1) Program
« Reply #753 on: 10/31/2017 11:55 am »
Here is an interesting article on XS-1 and other related topics: "DARPA Ties XS-1 Military Space Plane Project to National Security":
https://www.space.com/38558-darpa-spaceplane-will-protect-national-security.html?
2020... I predict that the program will face some "minor" delays and cost overruns, pushing it past 2020. By then a new administration will seize the opportunity to cancel it. Nothing will have been achieved other than  a giant waste of tax dollars. But nobody will care and 8 years later, another administration will do another program like this. Large defense contractors need their contracts.

Speculative. This isn’t the most complex of programs and is entirely doable within the timeframe given by a company like Boeing and their experience in these areas.
« Last Edit: 10/31/2017 03:13 pm by Star One »

Online butters

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Re: DARPA Experimental Spaceplane 1 (XS-1) Program
« Reply #754 on: 10/31/2017 12:39 pm »
Florida Todayreporting that Boeing is most likely negotiating with Space Florida to launch XS-1 from CCAFS, most likely either from LC-16 or -20:

http://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2017/10/09/state-talks-bring-new-launch-system-space-coast/747875001/

Huh. Where are they going to land the booster?
Skid strip and SLF are the already reserved options as of a while ago. Also the mentions Pads were announced a mere week after the XS-1 Boeing announcement so none of this is new information.
It has enough crossrange to enter the atmosphere at Mach 10+ going downrange, turn completely around, and glide back to the Cape?

I think the Mach 10 thing is just a bizarre demo requirement for single-stage suborbital point-to-point flights, isn't it?

Among expendable TSTOs, Atlas V and Delta IV have staging velocities in that ballpark, but this is frequently argued to be a higher than optimal staging velocity even for expendables. Why would a flyback booster want to take on an aggressive staging velocity like this?

Offline whitelancer64

Re: DARPA Experimental Spaceplane 1 (XS-1) Program
« Reply #755 on: 10/31/2017 01:11 pm »
Florida Todayreporting that Boeing is most likely negotiating with Space Florida to launch XS-1 from CCAFS, most likely either from LC-16 or -20:

http://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2017/10/09/state-talks-bring-new-launch-system-space-coast/747875001/

Huh. Where are they going to land the booster?
Skid strip and SLF are the already reserved options as of a while ago. Also the mentions Pads were announced a mere week after the XS-1 Boeing announcement so none of this is new information.
It has enough crossrange to enter the atmosphere at Mach 10+ going downrange, turn completely around, and glide back to the Cape?

I think the Mach 10 thing is just a bizarre demo requirement for single-stage suborbital point-to-point flights, isn't it?

Among expendable TSTOs, Atlas V and Delta IV have staging velocities in that ballpark, but this is frequently argued to be a higher than optimal staging velocity even for expendables. Why would a flyback booster want to take on an aggressive staging velocity like this?

It's almost exactly half of orbital velocity. The idea is to reduce the dV burden for the 2nd stage.
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Offline john smith 19

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Re: DARPA Experimental Spaceplane 1 (XS-1) Program
« Reply #756 on: 10/31/2017 01:14 pm »
I think the Mach 10 thing is just a bizarre demo requirement for single-stage suborbital point-to-point flights, isn't it?
No, it's DARPA's requirement, probably to simplify the upper stage a bit.
Quote from: butters
Among expendable TSTOs, Atlas V and Delta IV have staging velocities in that ballpark, but this is frequently argued to be a higher than optimal staging velocity even for expendables. Why would a flyback booster want to take on an aggressive staging velocity like this?
Simplify the upper stage, which is a single use piece of equipment. With a semi reusable system that's designed to reduce costs you want to put as much of the complexity into the part that's coming back.

The simplest US would be an existing solid with a fairing stuck on the top and with the attitude and being provided by the booster and the US simply running till burnout then ejecting the fairing.

However solids have handling issues. The next simplest is a pressure fed, again with no attitude control or TVC and a timer on the engine burn.

XS-1 is not a stage with wings attached, it's a full space plane, with the wings designed in from day one.
MCT ITS BFR SS. The worlds first Methane fueled FFSC engined CFRP SS structure A380 sized aerospaceplane tail sitter capable of Earth & Mars atmospheric flight.First flight to Mars by end of 2022 TBC. T&C apply. Trust nothing. Run your own #s "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof" R. Simberg."Competitve" means cheaper ¬cheap SCramjet proposed 1956. First +ve thrust 2004. US R&D spend to date > $10Bn. #deployed designs. Zero.

Offline envy887

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Re: DARPA Experimental Spaceplane 1 (XS-1) Program
« Reply #757 on: 10/31/2017 05:11 pm »
I think the Mach 10 thing is just a bizarre demo requirement for single-stage suborbital point-to-point flights, isn't it?

Among expendable TSTOs, Atlas V and Delta IV have staging velocities in that ballpark, but this is frequently argued to be a higher than optimal staging velocity even for expendables. Why would a flyback booster want to take on an aggressive staging velocity like this?

Launch costs have to be under $5M, including the expendable upper stage. The closer the booster gets it to orbit, the smaller, simpler, and cheaper that stage can be.

Offline TrevorMonty

Re: DARPA Experimental Spaceplane 1 (XS-1) Program
« Reply #758 on: 10/31/2017 05:33 pm »
I think Darpa wants to use mach10 capability for highspeed testing of other vehicles eg scamjet missiles.

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Offline Elmar Moelzer

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Re: DARPA Experimental Spaceplane 1 (XS-1) Program
« Reply #759 on: 11/01/2017 04:19 am »
Speculative. This isn’t the most complex of programs and is entirely doable within the timeframe given by a company like Boeing and their experience in these areas.
Sure they do, so had Lockheed with the X33 and then we had Constellation and all the other "wonderful" projects of the past 30 years. All had cost and time overruns.
The problem is that the timeframe falls right into the ballpark time where a new administration would cancel it. Has happened before.
Personally, I am also underwhelmed by the concept, considering what SpaceX and Blue are doing right now. If this was an SSTO, it would be interesting but as it is, I am not at all excited.

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