JP Aerospace

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JP Aerospace is a volunteer-based organization dedicated to achieving cheap access to space. They have been hired by the U.S. Air Force to provide concepts to allow rapid launch of battlefield communication and monitoring systems.^[1] JP Aerospace was founded and is still controlled by John Marchel Powell, or "JP" as he is familiarly known. JP Aerospace since its inception has had a special interest in lighter-than-air flight. Their stated purpose is achieving cheap access to space. Most competitors in the field of CATS ('Cheap Access To Space') have focused on ground-launched rockets or fixed-wing aerodynamic lift to high altitude followed by rocket propusion. JP Aerospace has uniquely chosen inflatable, buoyant components as a primary means of propulsion.

Contents 1 History and early developments 2 Current directions 3 See also 4 References 5 External links

[edit] History and early developments

During the 1990s JP Aerospace focused on achieving "the first amateur spaceflight". Their main system was a Rockoon, a system where a conventional rocket was to be carried to high altitude (nominally 100,000 ft) by balloons before firing normally. Their multiple-balloon systems proved highly difficult to get off the ground safely in anything but dead calm wind conditions. The JP Aerospace rockoon system never achieved nominal function; they did accomplish two in-air launches at lower altitudes. The first was early in the program, a proof-of-concept test launch from a couple hundred feet on September 10, 1995. The second was achieved May 23, 1999. The intended profile was to fly to 100,000 ft under balloons and then launch the rocket to 320,000 ft. The rocket was launched early at about 26,000 ft due to unfavorable high-altitude winds carrying the vehicle out of range boundaries. The rocket's highest reported altitude per GPS telemetry was 72,223 ft; it almost certainly coasted a few thousand feet higher. The rocket's recovery system failed and the rocket returned to earth ballistically. JP Aerospace had planned to use this system to make a spaceflight as part of the Space Frontier Foundation's 'CATS Prize' competition, but was unable to secure the necessary regulatory waivers to legally conduct their launch before the competition's deadline passed. Another organization known as HARC in fact did use a similar rockoon concept to make the only official launch attempt for the CATS Prize, but failed to achieve a winning altitude.

[edit] Current directions

Following the expiration of the CATS Prize, JP Aerospace largely relegated rocketry to a secondary interest and focused almost entirely on airship research. In 2003 they secured a contract with the Air Force to develop a prototype lighter-than-air near-space maneuvering vehicle. A 175-foot "Ascender" prototype was delivered in 2004 but the contract was not renewed. This event prompted a schism in the organisation as philosophical differences emerged. JP preferred to maintain the amateur-dominated organization while many core members preferred to pursue a more professional approach. This led to the departure of many core members. JP Aerospace quickly reformed around a new core of volunteers and today continues to fly a variety of experimental lighter-than-air vehicles to near-space altitudes. Their research focus presently centers around two remarkable concepts, the "Dark Sky Station" (DSS) and "Airship To Orbit" (ATO) concepts.

DSS is an enormous, permanently manned floating "near space station" that will serve as a very high altitude launch facility. The scale of this structure is enormous. It would be by far the largest moving structure ever assembled by humanity. A modern nuclear aircraft carrier would fit comfortably inside just one of its radial arms. There is considerable question as to whether a vehicle of this size is feasible, from either an engineering or economic standpoint. JP Aerospace clearly believes that it is, but has released no engineering or financial data to demonstrate its basis for such belief. ATO is a concept that a streamlined airship coupled with long-running, low thrust propulsion can over the course of several days accumulate enough Delta-v to achieve a stable orbit. This concept has also been widely doubted outside JP Aerospace. Citing trade secret confidentiality, JP Aerospace similarly has released no specific data supporting the viability of the concept.

JP's notes on the above:

A group of senior JPA staff left(removed)not at the end of the Air Force contract, but half way through it. The philosophical differences that emerged were in regards to the direction the organization would take. Several members wish to halt the space development and eliminate the volunteers. Their intent was to make JP Aerospace a more conventional aerospace contractor. Over nearly thirty years JP Aerospace has ranged in size from 20 to 80 members. As sad as the loss of those who did not continue with us was, they were only four people, the rest of the team continued on. The Air Force did offer, (in fact insisted on), JP Aerospace doing the follow-on work on the Ascender airship. JP Aerospace turned down the contract for a varity of reasons.

The rocket work continues on strong. Launches are not as frequent as the balloon launches, but that is just the nature of our development.

We remain dedicated to the notion of a space program that reqular folks can be a part of. I have seen volunteers run a more professional operations than many organizations with paid staff. It's the training, dedication and drive of the individual rather that the paycheck that counts.

Last note, high winds are no longer and issue. We have spend a great deal of effort on that challenge and we can now launch in all weather conditions.

JP www.jpaerospace.com jpowell@jpaerospace.com

[edit] See also

• Orbital airship
• Rockoon
• Space Fellowship
• Space Frontier Foundation

[edit] References

1. ^ See Boyle, 2004 (below)

[edit] External links

• JP Aerospace
• HARC
• JP Aerospace Rockoons
• Airship To Orbit Concept (pdf)
• Space Frontier Foundation CATS Prize
• Official JP Aerospace Forum
• Alan Boyle (2004), Airship groomed for flight to edge of space, MSNBC
• Stew Magnusson (2003), Air Force Explores Balloon-Assisted Launches, Space.com Space News, Imaginova Trade Publishing
• David Kushner, Space Invaders, IEEE Spectrum