Japan Continues Reusable Vehicle Test Program

ROCKET SCIENCE

The RVT-9 during recent tests

a JAXA Press Release
Tokyo - Oct 22, 2003
A study for fully reusable rocket vehicle has been conducted for the future space transportation systems at ISAS/JAXA. A test vehicle was built for the design of such vehicle, and continuing flight test campaigns have been conducted in May 1999 and June 2001. This is Reusable Vehicle Testing (RVT) lesson campaign, which will give us an opportunity to exercise new design and operational aspect peculiar for the reusable rocket vehicle.

For the basic studies of "Fully Reusable Space Transportation System", we still have so many things to do, both in higher performance oriented studies such as super light weight materials and structures and engines, and "Reusable System Architecture" such as to make aircraft type of repeated flight operation possible.

There is a long way ahead before the readiness, and therefore the present study is just a starting point for our future.

The primary objectives of the RVT campaign are :

design and operational lessons in repeated flight of hydrogen fueled rocket and its turnaround, and
vertical landing flight of rocket propelled vehicle.

New flight test articles and technologies for the development of the vehicle are demonstrated in the repeated flight environment. The present flight test (RVT#3) is planned in the end of October and we plan to exercise more in :

design and verification of propulsion systems for repeated flight and its turnaround,
automatic vertical landing by engine throttling, and
composite cryogenic tank for light weight materials.

The test vehicle is propelled by a LOX/LH2 small rocket engine. The dry weight is about 500 kg, and the vehicle height is about 3.5 m. The test vehicle is able to take-off and land vertically, and fly for about 20 sec with 70 kg fuels. For the next study target, an exo-atmospheric ballistic flight vehicle based on the present concept is also proposed as an extension of this test vehicle studies.

ROCKET SCIENCE

NASA Selects Allied Team To Provide Hypersonic Vehicles

Hampton - Oct 09, 2003
NASA has selected Allied Aerospace Industries of Tullahoma, Tenn., to provide three flight-ready experimental demonstrator vehicles that will fly approximately 5,000 miles per hour or seven times the speed of sound. The multi-year project, called X-43C, will expand the hypersonic flight envelope for air-breathing engines.

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2016 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.