Draper signs agreement to provide software for Stratolaunch's hypersonic vehicle

Precision guidance and navigation is critical to success and safety in spaceflight. Today, as Stratolaunch builds its next generation vehicle for hypersonic flight test, it will be guided by flight software developed by Draper.

"As with Draper's past contributions to the U.S. space program, Draper's engineers are proud to develop a key component of Stratolaunch's hypersonic vehicle-guidance, navigation and control (GN&C) software," said Neil Adams, Draper's principal director of space systems.

"Stratolaunch's vehicles will travel through the Earth's atmosphere at speeds of more than 3,800 miles per hour. Stratolaunch presents an opportunity to put Draper's flight software into a hypersonic flight envelope-one with a slender, low-drag form that can enable sustained maneuvering flight in the atmosphere."

Stratolaunch builds, tests and operates hypersonic vehicles-those that can travel at least five times the speed of sound, or Mach 5. Draper's flight software will be used on Talon-A, a fully reusable, autonomous, liquid rocket-powered Mach 6-class hypersonic vehicle.

Under the multi-year contract, Draper will design, develop and deliver a guidance, navigation and control system for the Stratolaunch reusable hypersonic vehicle. The vehicle is designed for use by government, including the Department of Defense, the commercial sector and academia, which will contract for payload capacity for space or earth applications.

Draper's work on the Stratolaunch vehicle builds on its legacy of support to NASA, which began with Draper's design of the Apollo Guidance Computer, and has continued with programs including the International Space Station (ISS) and the Space Shuttle.

Draper has been a leader in hypersonics for decades, and has provided system evaluations, capabilities including guidance, navigation and control and hypersonic flight test support for its U.S. government customers.

Related Links
Draper
Rocket Science News at Space-Travel.Com

Tweet

Thanks for being there;
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 Monthly Supporter
$5+ Billed Monthly

paypal only

SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once

credit card or paypal

Demonstrator masters flight sequences for reusable rocket stages
Bucharest (ESA) Oct 14, 2020
A crucial part of rocket reusability is a smooth return and landing. ESA has helped Romania's National Institute for Aerospace Research, INCAS, to demonstrate vertical takeoff, short hovering and landing manoeuvres using a small-scale flight demonstrator. This 60 kg platform has landing legs and is powered by a turbo jet 0.9 kN-class engine. It is capable of carrying payloads totalling 5 kg. The demonstrator technology vehicle (DTV) was tested this summer at INCAS in Bucharest. Tethers were ... read more