The entire launch facility, including an ISO-7 Class 10,000 cleanroom payload facility, packs away inside 26 standard ISO cargo-containers.The complete facility can relocate to a new launch site in less than 30 days.
Still though, ohgodanothersmallsatlauncherAll the power to them anyway.
Quote from: NovaSilisko on 12/10/2015 07:30 amStill though, ohgodanothersmallsatlauncherAll the power to them anyway.The more the merrier. Original X-Prize had about 30 entrants. Only one got to space, barely - and orbital rockets are plenty harder.Best of luck with the venture, this looks like a very reasonable approach.
...I wonder if any of the spent first stages would get far enough to impact arctic sea ice. That could be an environmental concern.
Quote from: savuporo on 12/10/2015 07:55 amQuote from: NovaSilisko on 12/10/2015 07:30 amStill though, ohgodanothersmallsatlauncherAll the power to them anyway.The more the merrier. Original X-Prize had about 30 entrants. Only one got to space, barely - and orbital rockets are plenty harder.Best of luck with the venture, this looks like a very reasonable approach.It all comes down to how well they are financed.
Quote from: TrevorMonty on 12/10/2015 08:16 amQuote from: savuporo on 12/10/2015 07:55 amQuote from: NovaSilisko on 12/10/2015 07:30 amStill though, ohgodanothersmallsatlauncherAll the power to them anyway.The more the merrier. Original X-Prize had about 30 entrants. Only one got to space, barely - and orbital rockets are plenty harder.Best of luck with the venture, this looks like a very reasonable approach.It all comes down to how well they are financed. Financing is only one part of building a product, you actually need a product/service that is workable and a team with the right combination of talent that is able to execute as well.
Quote from: savuporo on 12/10/2015 05:46 pmFinancing is only one part of building a product, you actually need a product/service that is workable and a team with the right combination of talent that is able to execute as well.And the money to pay their wages.
Financing is only one part of building a product, you actually need a product/service that is workable and a team with the right combination of talent that is able to execute as well.
BLACK ADDER? BLACK PRINCE? I guess both of those will have been considered already though. 😊
Both Lance and Javelin have already been used for military missiles. Might want to avoid those associations.
P.S. Horizon news coming next week!
Maybe people on NSF would like to try come up with a better name? I won't promise we'll change, but if there's a really excellent suggestion out there that captures our team's interest, it would certainly be a shame to miss it!
The news is coming soon, but in the meantime, don't limit yourselves to the 'colour' code style, you are allowed to be more adventurous Might I also suggest trying a few names with a possible nautical flavour?Ross.
What engine cycle is Horizon going with?
Horizon Space Technologies Ltd is officially announcing our British launch system has secured funding.The press release has begun to go out to news agencies, and I've already sent a copy to Chris Bergin.Watch this space for more info!Ross.
gin455res; currently planning GG for the first stage. Simple pressure fed for the upper.Ross.
The UK’s Space Launch Company - Launching Rockets from the UK Within 3 YearsPress Release From: Horizon Space TechnologiesPosted: Monday, July 10, 2017Many of us who have dreamed of travelling into space will have been thrilled by the announcement of the new Space Industry Bill which was included in the recent Queen’s Speech to Parliament. The bill’s stated purpose is to make the UK the most attractive place in Europe for commercial space and will give companies the ability to launch rockets from the UK. The UK’s space industry is worth an estimated £13.7billion and the government hopes to significantly increase the UK’s share of global space turnover from 6.5% to 10% by 2030.Taking advantage of these regulatory changes is UK start-up company Horizon Space Technologies Limited, formed by Ross Tierney. Tierney, a British born rocket designer, led the NASA team to replace the aging space shuttle programme in the wake of the Columbia shuttle disaster in 2003. Horizon’s growing team of talented British engineers began 12 months ago to develop a range of space launchers in the UK.“This is a very exciting time for Horizon and for British space” says Tierney “Our mission is to make space affordable by drastically reducing the inherent costs and the time taken to develop our launchers. Starting without the legacy issues of other space companies, we are developing our rockets using the best talent that the UK has to offer. In particular, we are using a rapid development process that originates from the UK’s world-leading Formula 1 industry; this will allow Horizon to drive costs significantly lower”.Horizon has won a technology development grant from the UK Space Agency which has helped to kick off its initial development work. The company plans an initial space port within the UK but also plans to launch its rockets off specialist ships which can be positioned around the world “The ability to launch from almost anywhere gives us advantages in terms of performance and flexibility to place our rockets into the required orbit” says Tierney “it also gives us the unique ability to launch our clients’ satellites from their own region”.The UK is one of the world’s most important satellite manufacturers and initially the company has its eye on the small satellite launch market which is estimated to grow significantly over the next few years as the world’s hunger for mobile data increases and older satellites become redundant. However the company’s ambitions go far beyond satellites “We will use our initial launches to test our systems – but our ultimate goal is manned space flight” says Tierney “We intend to open up space in much the same way as the first railways opened up the western United States to growth and commercial activity”.The company has received seed capital from private investors and is well along the way to securing the funds it needs to fulfil its long-term ambitions. “Space travel is a complex business to develop” says Tierney “but our goal is to reduce costs and be able to compete favourably in the new commercial space environment that has been evolving over the last decade. This will result in a profitable business going forward, bringing increased export services and huge rewards to the UK. The investors coming on board at this early stage see this potential and want a piece of what will be a very lucrative industry”.The company will soon be creating many100’s of high quality, science, engineering and manufacturing jobs on a number of sites within the UK. Advice has also been found from the Welsh Government, with Wales being one of the areas where the company is planning to locate its rocket engine testing facilities, docks and manufacturing. “With Brexit around the corner, the UK needs to develop its own technologies and independent capabilities more than ever. We see Horizon as fulfilling an important part of that need and we believe that a home grown space flight capability will encourage pride in our nation and will bring many benefits - economic, geo-political and educational, to name a few” says Tierney “The future is just over the Horizon”.About Horizon Space Technologies LimitedHorizon is a British based and British owned company embarking on a development program to build and launch a series of rocket powered space launchers manufactured in the UK. It is headed by some of the world’s leading experts in the field of rocket, aerospace and motor racing engineering. Their mission is to make space affordable and accessible.Press ContactName: Paul Painter, Chief Commercial OfficerMobile: +44 (0) 790 8850163Email: [email protected]Web: www.horizonsas.com
"Horizon has won a technology development grant from the UK Space Agency which has helped to kick off its initial development work."This was in 2016 I think, mentioned further up in this thread? https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=38987.msg1656997#msg1656997Or is it something new? If new it is good news."Tierney, a British born rocket designer, led the NASA team to replace the aging space shuttle programme in the wake of the Columbia shuttle disaster in 2003"Is this accurate? My understanding was DIRECT was an ad hoc group working voluntarily outside NASA? Or have I got that wrong? It's what was mentioned here:-https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/05/direct-rebuttal-nasa-analysis-jupiter-launch-vehicle/"The team claims to be comprised of eight public representatives and 62 NASA and contractor engineers – who work on the project on their own time."
Looks like this is dead now. From what I can see on UK Companies House they have effectively closed down Horizon Space Technologies Limited as of a few days ago, Ross and most of the directors have resigned it seems:-https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/09331949/filing-historyI am guessing that means they did not get any funding from the UK space launch initiative.
I am guessing that means they did not get any funding from the UK space launch initiative.
Quote from: ringsider on 09/16/2017 07:20 amI am guessing that means they did not get any funding from the UK space launch initiative.The UK Space Agency says "Final announcements about any awards of grant funding are expected later in this financial year." which ends on 5 April 2018. That was on 18 August, only one month ago. It seems unlikely that the awards have been made. The article also says "We will be holding a second LaunchUK event later this year to bring together this community, and discuss our plans going forward in more detail." which I don't think has occurred yet.https://www.gov.uk/government/news/bids-for-government-funding-prove-strong-interest-in-launchuk