Author Topic: Planned Kistler K-1 Test Program (Read 15057 times)

e of pi · « **on:** 09/03/2017 01:18 am »

Does anyone around here have any details on how Kistler planned to test the K-1 as they geared up to flight if they'd managed to make it past their financial challenges? We've seen how SpaceX and Blue respectively have proceeded with incremental testing on VTVL landings, would Kistler have tried a similar phased test program?

Also, I've seen that their user's guide mentions mainly the facility at Woomera, was that intended to be their main launch site, or how would things be balanced between that and Nevada?

Blackstar · « **Reply #1 on:** 09/04/2017 07:06 pm »

Contact Leonard David, who did a lot of research on Kistler and may know some answers.

Everybody has pretty much forgotten now, but Kistler burned through a lot of money before they folded. A few other companies did as well.

libra · « **Reply #2 on:** 04/27/2019 07:37 pm »

Per lack of a dedicated Kistler thread...

http://stargazer2006.online.fr/space/pages/kistler2.htm

Kistler aparently went through three phases

- the DC-X like K-0 with the bizarre Launch Assist Platform

- two variations of the final design - the one with the NK-33 and NK-43 which died in 2011 and another, earlier variant shown in the link above.

Look at the link: RD-120 engines borrowed from Zenit second stage. What is curious is that Kistler stage 2, the Orbital Vehicle, was 3.9 m in diameter. This is Zenit diameter... and also Antares, as OSC rocket was outsourced in Ukraine !
So the Kistler, too, was an offspring of the Zenit (at least as of 1996-97) ?

The irony is that the said Antares replaced the Kistler after the company failed their COTS deadline, late 2007.

Funnily enough, this would also mean that Kistler K-1, Antares, and the new Ukranian launchers (Mayak, Cyclone 4M, Cyclone 1) are all brother and sisters - since they are all the offspring of... Zenit 3.9 m diameter tooling !
Zenit, Kistler, Antares, Mayak, Cyclone... what a family !