The SpaceDev small launch vehicle will be designed to responsively and affordably lift up to 1,000 pounds to Low Earth Orbit. Phase II of this project calls for the design, manufacture, and hot fire testing of a prototype hybrid second stage motor with approximately 4,000 lbs. of propellant.

"We defined methods to increase the performance of our hybrid rocket motor technology during the first phase of this project," commented Jim Benson, SpaceDev's founding chairman and chief executive officer.

"We are transitioning smoothly into the next phase of development, and are pleased to be working with AFRL Edwards toward test firings and further demonstrations of our hybrid motor capabilities."

The results of these technology demonstrations will provide further motor performance verification data of SpaceDev's proprietary hybrid propulsion technology.

Hybrid rocket motors are a combination of solid fuel and liquid oxidizer, and can be relatively safe, clean, non-explosive, and storable, and can be throttled, shut down and restarted.

The SpaceDev family of small, responsive, affordable, expendable launch vehicles is planned to consist of three versions. The smallest version will consist of the booster stage, anticipated to be marketed as a sounding rocket and target.

The second version is planned to be air launchable from a C-17A, and consist of three stages: the booster, the second stage described above, and an upper stage based on the SpaceDev Maneuvering and Orbit Transfer Vehicle being developed under a separate AFRL Kirtland contract.

The largest member of the SpaceDev family will be a four-stage version designed to affordably and competitively launch about 1,000 pounds of payload into low earth orbit.

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