DARPA Plans XS-1 Industry Day for April 29
XS-1 concept vehicle (Credit: Masten Space Systems)
WASHINGTON (DARPA PR) — The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Tactical Technology Office (TTO) is sponsoring a Proposers Day to provide information to potential proposers on the objectives of the XS-1 program in advance of a planned Phase II and III Program Solicitation (PS). The Proposers Day will be held on Friday, April 29, 2016 at the DARPA Conference Center, 675 North Randolph Street, Arlington, VA 22203-2114 from 1:00PM to 4:30PM Eastern Time. Advance registration is required. A live webcast will be available for those who cannot attend in person.
The overall objective of the XS-1 Phase II and III program is to design, build, and flight test a reusable booster system to support an expendable upper stage capable of inserting 3,000 pounds to orbit, with a design goal of less than $5M cost per launch for an operational system. The program will demonstrate on-demand and rapid operations by flying the booster ten times in ten days and launching a demonstration payload greater than 900 pounds to orbit. Based on the results of Phase I, DARPA anticipates awarding Phase II and III of the XS-1 program using an other transaction for prototype agreement. Refer to the attachment, “DARPA-SN-16-29 4-7-2016,” for complete details of this Special Notice including registration instructions.
6 responses to “DARPA Plans XS-1 Industry Day for April 29”
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Heh Heh. Masten will not live down that image of a winged VTVL vehicle.
Yes, Dave Masten has strongly implied that they are thinking VTVL, but they are also partnered with XCOR, so they may surprise us.
Boeing makes me think of X-37, but is partnered with Blue Origin, which suggests to me VTVL, via a New Shepherd like approach.
Northrop partnered with Virgin seems the most likely winged “spaceplane” candidate at the mo.
Interesting that articles on XS-1 that I’ve read lately are no longer mentioning Mach 10 as a requirement.
XCOR was not on the list of partners that Dave Masten showed at Space Access on Thursday.
That is interesting! But understandable given the recent shakeup at XCOR.
Was I completely mistaken that Masten had originally given XCOR as their XS-1 partner?.
twitter:
“As part of XS-1 engine work, Masten planning demonstrator at 25 kbf. thrust; one person notes it could be RL10 replacement.”
Anyhow, looks like Masten are looking to have propulsion covered.
Space.com article by our own Douglas Messier:
“Masten has partnered with another Mojave company, XCOR Aerospace, which will provide the propulsion system for the reusable XS-1 vehicle. XCOR is working on a design for a fully reusable orbital system of its own.”