The Falcon SLV program also selected AirLaunch LLC to develop a detailed design of their launch vehicle and to continue risk reduction activities. Phase 2C was the last portion of the DARPA/Air Force Small Launch Vehicle program. During phase 2C, AirLaunch conducted a number of test firings to further develop and characterize their vapor pressurization propulsion system. Those tests have been completed, and DARPA's SLV program has concluded.
According to this document the Darpa SLV program and phase 2C of the Quickreach has been concluded.QuoteThe Falcon SLV program also selected AirLaunch LLC to develop a detailed design of their launch vehicle and to continue risk reduction activities. Phase 2C was the last portion of the DARPA/Air Force Small Launch Vehicle program. During phase 2C, AirLaunch conducted a number of test firings to further develop and characterize their vapor pressurization propulsion system. Those tests have been completed, and DARPA's SLV program has concluded.Does this mean that Airlaunch LLC will close up shop? Or are they hoping they will get money from another program?
Quote from: Zond on 12/29/2008 03:13 pmAccording to this document the Darpa SLV program and phase 2C of the Quickreach has been concluded.QuoteThe Falcon SLV program also selected AirLaunch LLC to develop a detailed design of their launch vehicle and to continue risk reduction activities. Phase 2C was the last portion of the DARPA/Air Force Small Launch Vehicle program. During phase 2C, AirLaunch conducted a number of test firings to further develop and characterize their vapor pressurization propulsion system. Those tests have been completed, and DARPA's SLV program has concluded.Does this mean that Airlaunch LLC will close up shop? Or are they hoping they will get money from another program?They did good work, but in the end the program was killed more due to politics than technical issues.~Jon
I will say that we decided methane was a much better propellant for VaPak systems than propane for purely operational reasons, not related to Isp or density.
According to a comment Gary made on your blog they weren't happy with their choice for propane as propellant for the VaPak system used on the Quickreach rocket.Quote from: Gary HudsonI will say that we decided methane was a much better propellant for VaPak systems than propane for purely operational reasons, not related to Isp or density.This sounds to me like a serious technical issue. I'm also wondering if they ever got Air Mobility Command to sign off on loading a $218 million C-17 with a rocket loaded with propellants.
Now, I don't know if I actually agree with all of Gary's technical decisions on this project, or think that this particular instantiation was the best way to do what DARPA and the Air Force were trying to achieve. But I do think it's legit to say that they were making good progress, but it was mostly politics and agency funding issues that torpedoed things in the end, not "Gary Hudson always screwing things up" like Kool-aid was intimating.
Thanks for weighing in with your observations, Jon, but the man's record speaks for itself--a record "unblemished" by success.
Would the Quick Reach 1 have been able to fly to LEO if it had been fully funded?Are they able to start up again if they were funded?