Spaceflight, Fast and Affordable Access to Sub-Orbital Space

Spaceflight, Fast and Affordable Access to Sub-Orbital Space
Exos Aerospace Systems & Technology Kickstarter, 28 April 2015
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/95173281/spaceflight-fast-and-affordable-access-to-sub-orbi

Born from Armadillo Aerospace a group of the core team members are back at it with an improved vehicle ready to reach for space again.

EXOS Aerospace Systems & Technologies, Inc. would like you to join with them and the former core employees of Armadillo Aerospace to embark on a renewed adventure- building commercial sub-orbital rockets that will carry pretty much anything you can think of (that fits into the current or optional “expanded” cargo bay) to space and back in just a few minutes.

NASA 3D Prints the World’s First Full-Scale Copper Rocket Engine Part

NASA 3D Prints the World’s First Full-Scale Copper Rocket Engine Part
3DPrint.com, 22 April 2015
http://3dprint.com/59881/nasa-3d-prints-copper-rocket/

NASA’s latest innovation with 3D printing comes with their recent breakthrough; 3D printing full-scaled copper rocket engine parts. In trying to save both time and money, the organization has begun using selective laser melting 3D printers to create a combustion chamber liner that is able to function at extremely high and low temperatures.

"World's first battery-powered rocket" readied for launch

"World's first battery-powered rocket" readied for launch
Gizmag, 20 April 2015
http://www.gizmag.com/electron-rocket-batery-satellite-launch-vehicle/37060

Rocket Lab's idea for making a lighter, simpler liquid rocket is its Rutherford engine. Named after New Zealand-born physicist Ernest Rutherford, it's an electric turbopump engine that burns a mixture of liquid oxygen and RP-1 rocket fuel, which is a highly refined type of kerosene. Unlike conventional engines, in the Rutherford, the gas-powered turbine to run the pump is replaced with a brushless DC motor and lithium polymer batteries, and provides enough fuel for the Rutherford to generate 4,600 lbf (20,462 N) of thrust and a specific impulse of 327 seconds.

Advanced Launch Technology Life Cycle Analysis Using the Architectural Comparison Tool (ACT)

Advanced Launch Technology Life Cycle Analysis Using the Architectural Comparison Tool (ACT)
NASA NTRS, 6 April 2015
http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20150004148

[Note: This report seems to indicate increased interest and a finding to put more effort into development of small launch vehicles at NASA.]

In FY14, NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) Game Changing Development (GCD) Program investigated two technology areas in the ALTIA activity. The first would enable new markets in dedicated nanolaunchers; that is, launchers whose payload is very small and devoted solely to delivering CubeSat-sized payloads that would otherwise be restricted to secondary accommodation on missions that use a much larger class of launch vehicle (the state of the art).

Finding #2 – Pursue focused nanolauncher technologies and design approaches, such as integrated avionics and a three-stage nanolauncher. These two examples enable simpler infrastructures, shorter production times, and greater flight rate capability. Of the technologies the team had time to pursue, advanced avionics can reduce recurring cost by ~20%, as well as improve launch rates. However, advances in avionics that do not reduce the number of procured and installed avionics components do not realize significant cost and productivity benefits. A wider technology portfolio would be more effective in improving life cycle characteristics. A three-stage NL001 configuration (perhaps one with solids on the lower stages topped with a very small liquid upper stage) should achieve similar reductions,