Transformational Space is a non-government space corporation looking to provide NASA with alternative means of getting astronauts up to the International Space Station, delivering cargo into earth orbit, and providing "a breakthrough in affordability for delivering crews to earth orbit via Rapid Hardware Prototyping in a Fixed Price Development Contract".
Transformational Space fully intends to be part of NASA'S program to establish a research settlement on the Moon.
"t/Space" is working with Burt Rutan's aerospace company Scaled Composites (X-Prize Winner - first private buisness to put a human into space) and they have successfully demonstrated a new approach to launching spacecraft up to Low Earth Orbit.
Traditionally, a spacecraft is launched from an earth based launch pad which require enormous multi stage rocket engines to take the craft up to low earth orbit. An alternative to this is to launch an orbital spacecraft from a "mother ship" airplane, already high up in the atmosphere (40,000' plus). This "air launched" spacecraft economically delivers the crew or payload into orbit.
Past systems for this type of launch (USAF X-15) required the spacecraft to have wings in order to turn itself into a vertical position in order to achieve orbit. The new method developed by t/Space and Scaled Composites uses a tether and parachute to initiate the rotation to vertical, and allows the spacecraft to ignite its rocket engines behind (aft) of the mother ship. This is a much safer method than igniting the rocket engines, then passing under and turning to vertical in front of the mother ship.
"Three weeks of flight tests over the Mojave desert have demonstrated a breakthrough in how to safely launch future passenger-carrying rockets using a carrier aircraft. Transformational Space Corp. (t/Space) and Burt Rutan's Scaled Composites drop-tested dummy boosters from an aircraft using a technique that caused them to rotate towards vertical without requiring wings."
Article comments
1 - Aaman
Sexy pics - where do I sign up?:)
2 - Floris Vermeir
Very intresting. It shows that new concepts are possible, and this one is very promissing.
Even the article used for the test, could be used to launch satelites whith, do certian test otherwise only done whith sounding rockets. And the like. There program is well researched, and looks far more realistic then others I have seen. They could even reuse the CEV's left on the moon, for use in a moon base, or perhaps refuel them and use them more than once. Perhaps as cargo transporters.
Nice pictures, they explain so much more then words do.
3 - Bennett
Floris - It is a flexible system, and these folks mean business. They do not want to be a sub-contractor to NASA, prefering to develop and deploy their own designs.
Take a look at their website. They have the science, astronauts, and backing. I wish them very well.
Aaman - :-] I'd suggest donating huge amounts of hard cash.
4 - Dave Nalle
Very clever idea. Both cheaper and safer than the space shuttle. When do they go public?
Dave
5 - Elliot Kulakow
I've been involved with the alt.space community for about two years now, and I can tell you that these guys are amazing. It's not just Scaled Composites and t/Space that are pushing the frontier, there are probably around ten companies seriously working for widespread, private access to space. None of them are especially great stock choices, in fact only a small fraction are even public, but that doesn't mean that there's no way to invest if you're interested. Do some research and talk to people, they'll be more than interested in investors, even if you're only talking a couple thousand dollars. Most of these programs are pretty low cost, that's enough money to be significant to them.
6 - Bennett
Dave - What Elliot says is true. If you've got the dinero, invest some of it with these guys. You could do a lot worse!
Bennett
7 - Bennett
I'd really appreciate your "short list" of companies you think are potential players. I have some of them I'm sure, but I may not have ALL of 'em!
Thanks Elliot!
8 - swingingpuss
Bennett, the pics are awesome and your enthusiasm for space exploration reflects well in the post .
9 - Bennett
Thanks swingingpuss! I had fun gathering the pictures from the t/Space website. I didn't use half of what they have available.
It really helps tell the story far better than plain text.