Masten Space Systems
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| Masten Space Systems, Inc. | |
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| Type | Private |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Headquarters | Mojave, California, USA |
| Key people | David Masten, CEO Michael Mealling, VP Business Development and CFO Jonathan Goff, Propulsion Engineer Ian Garcia, GN&C Engineer Ben Brockert, Technician/Fabricator |
| Industry | Aerospace and defense |
| Products | Suborbital spacecraft Space systems Throttleable rocket engines Rocket Propulsion Hardware |
| Services | Rocket Propulsion Design and Analysis Space Hardware Test Services |
| Employees | 5 (4/9/08) |
| Website | masten-space.com |
Masten Space Systems is an aerospace startup company in Mojave, California (formerly Santa Clara, California) that is developing a line of Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) spacecraft for both unmanned research applications and eventually manned suborbital flight.
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[edit] Overview
Masten Space Systems is a Mojave, California based rocket company that is currently developing a line of reusable VTOL spacecraft, and related rocket propulsion hardware. Masten Space Systems is also an aerospace R&D shop that provides aerospace design, analysis, consultation, prototype construction and testing, and design review services for groups involved in rocket propulsion and spaceflight research.
They have announced their intention to compete against Armadillo Aerospace in the Lunar Lander Analog Challenge in 2008.
[edit] The XA Line of VTVL Suborbital Vehicles
The XA (eXtreme Altitude) line of suborbital Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) vehicles is a family of incrementally developed vehicles starting with technology demonstrators, and leading to commercially operated manned and unmanned suborbital launch vehicles. The XA series of suborbital vehicles will also help lay the groundwork and prove out some of the technologies necessary for future TSTO orbital launch vehicles, lunar landers, and other spacecraft.
The XA-0.x vehicles are technology demonstrators that prove out new components, technologies or techniques for the operational vehicles in the XA series, such as XA-1.0, XA-1.5, and XA-2.0.
[edit] XA 0.1
The first vehicle in their line of Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) spacecraft was XA-0.1. The purpose of XA-0.1 was to serve as a technology demonstrator, testing out the propulsion system, flight controls, and other systems for future vehicles. XA-0.1 also provided experience in system integration and ground operations.
XA-0.1 was a pressure-fed system using four XVT-500LIT-4 Liquid Oxygen/Isopropyl Alcohol rocket engines, each of which produce up to 500lb of thrust at full throttle. The engines are currently rated for throttling over a 3:1 ratio, and are mounted on a 1-axis hinge for Thrust Vector Control. In order to allow most of the focus to be on the propulsion system and the flight management systems, XA-0.1 used an outsourced GN&C system, surplus Rocketdyne propellant tanks (Vernier Feed Tanks from the Atlas-I missile), and a heavy-weight structure made of 80/20 aluminum extrusion. Due to the low propellant capacity of those propellant tanks (~75L), and the non-weight-optimized frame, XA-0.1 was only capable of approximately 45s of hover time.
XA-0.1 entered tethered flight testing in summer of 2007, but was retired in late 2007 after suffering extensive structural damage during tether tests.
[edit] XA-0.1B/C
After the tethered flight mishap that led to XA-0.1 being retired, MSS recognized that a few of the important goals of XA-0.1 had not been achieved, most particularly demonstration of stable, controlled flight. In late March of 2008 at the annual Space Access Conference, Masten Space Systems announced the development of a pair of interim vehicles, XA-0.1B and XA-0.1C that would help prove out these technologies while long-lead-time items for XA-0.2 were still under development.
The primary goal of these two airframes is to demonstrate stable, controlled flight using a GN&C system developed in-house at MSS. XA-0.1B will be built mostly using hardware recovered from XA-0.1 with some computer and actuator upgrades. XA-0.1C will be similar in design, but will feature the new 750lbf XVT-750LIT-1 engines being developed for XA-0.2. Both will use the same tank size as XA-0.1, sport a lighter, welded steel frame, and are planned to be capable of approximately 60-70s of hover time.
Construction on the first of these two airframes started on April 3, 2008 with the goal of entering vehicle static testing by early summer 2008.
[edit] XA-0.2
The next experimental vehicle in the XA-0.x series will allow MSS to develop flight experience with a vehicle that has much higher performance than the initial XA-0.1, 0.1B and 0.1C vehicles. It will incorporate the 750lbf LOX/IPA engines and unified flight computers that will be proven out on XA-0.1B and C, but will feature much larger lower pressure propellant tanks, lighter weight Carbon Fiber Reinforced pressurant gas tanks, and a much lighter sheet metal frame, and new landing gear that are both lighter weight and provide a wider landing base. The flight duration goal for the vehicles is over 200s.
Construction on this vehicle began in summer of 2007, however due to flight testing of XA-0.1, and issues with propellant tank fabricators, the vehicle was put on hold in the fall of that year. As of April 2008, a newer batch of propellant tanks is out for fabrication, the new engines are being built, and the static test trailer is being upgraded and repaired in preparation for new engine tests. If completed in time for the 2008 Lunar Lander Analog Challenge, this vehicle will likely be the MSS entry.
[edit] XA-0.3
The next planned vehicle after XA-0.2 will be a vehicle with an airframe designed for high-speed flight, including retractable landing gear.
[edit] Further XA-0.x Vehicles
After XA-0.3, additional vehicles will be used to test all the other subsystems required to lead up to XA-1.0, and future operational vehicles.
[edit] XA 1.0
The first commercial vehicle that Masten Space Systems is working toward will be called XA-1.0. The current configuration for XA-1.0 is in flux, but will likely be a 4 or 5 engine pressure-fed configuration. XA-1.0 is designed to be able to take unmanned payloads of up to 100kg to a 100 km Apogee. These unmanned scientific, commercial, or educational payloads will be exposed to 2-4 minutes of microgravity, as well as the vacuum of space, and given a view of the earth or the sky depending on their requirements. Depending on the progress of XA-0.x vehicle development, a lower-altitude vehicle, with performance comparable to the XCOR Lynx Mk I may be offered commercially before that point.
XA-1.0 is designed to be operated by a minimal staff out of unprepared facilities. It is designed with a high flight-rate, and low turn-around time in mind, with the goal of being able to fly multiple times per day out of a single launch site.
[edit] Soda Sats
One of the most innovative payloads that will be flown on XA-1.0 is the SodaSat, a 350g payload designed to fit into the space of a standard soda can. These low-cost experiments are intended for the K-12 educational market, as well as for amateur scientists, and hobbyists.
[edit] Further XA-x.0 Vehicles
Based on operational experience with XA-1.0, and further XA-0.x development work, the next vehicle will be an upgrade to XA-1.0 called XA-1.5. XA-1.5 will feature an upgraded propulsion system and other performance enhancements. XA-1.5 will be capable of flying to much higher altitudes (potentially as high as 200-400km), yielding a longer duration microgravity environment and much improved earth-observation capabilities. XA-1.5 will also have optional features to improve the microgravity quality of the vehicle, or to provide for finer pointing capabilities for astronomical observation payloads.
After XA-1.5, the XA-2.0 space tourism vehicle is the next planned development. This vehicle will be capable of carrying 2-5 passengers to altitudes in excess of 200 km.
[edit] Other Products and Services
In addition to its eXtreme Altitude line of vehicles, Masten Space Systems is an aerospace R&D shop that sells or licenses rocket propulsion hardware, and provides consulting and testing services to interested individuals, researchers and other aerospace firms. These services include engineering design and analysis of propulsion or suborbital spaceflight hardware, fabrication and testing of prototype systems, rocket engine testing services, and ground and flight testing of aerospace hardware.
[edit] See also
- List of private spaceflight companies - A compiled list of private spaceflight companies
- Space Fellowship - Hosts the official Masten Space Systems Forum
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[edit] External links
- Masten Space Systems - Company homepage
- Selenian Boondocks - Blog by Masten Space engineer Jonathan Goff on space development topics
- Official Masten Space Systems Forum
