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USAF Boosts Starcraft With Research Contract For Reusuable Booster
Houston - June 25, 2002 Starcraft Boosters, Inc. (SBI) said Monday that it has been awarded a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL-Kirtland AFB) to explore innovative technologies and approaches that address Small Launch Vehicle (SLV) responsiveness and affordability. As part of this Phase I contract, SBI will begin definition of a small, reusable rocket-powered booster demonstrator that will provide configuration and technology traceability to and risk mitigation for a future space launch vehicle that will be capable of orbiting small satellites (100-1000 lbm). Once developed, the booster demonstrator will act as a test bed for technologies being developed by AFRL and SBI. This will include evolution of technologies aimed at improving launch responsiveness and reliability through inspection and reuse. Following the demonstration program, these demonstrator vehicles may be converted to revenue service for small payloads and to improve the performance of present sounding rocket and target vehicles. Dr. Buzz Aldrin, Apollo 11 astronaut, formed Starcraft Boosters, Inc. in 1996 to define new, innovative approaches to space launch that could build upon existing and emerging space launch technologies and assets. SBI has focused on design and development of low-cost, rapid response launchers that can provide both military and commercial users with alternatives to today's fleet of expendable launch vehicles. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links Starcraft Boosters Air Force Research Lab SpaceDaily Search SpaceDaily Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express Rocket Science News at Space-Travel.Com
Successful First Test For Vega's Zefiro 9 Engine
Paris, France(ESA) Dec 28, 2005Flames, smoke and a deafening noise accompanied the first firing test of Vega's Zefiro 9 third-stage solid rocket motor. A first examination of the data indicates that everything went well at the test carried out yesterday at Salto de Quirra in southeast Sardinia. |
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