A study of a near-term, low risk two-stage-to-orbit (TSTO) vehicle was undertaken. The goal of the study was to assess a fully reusable TSTO vehicle with horizontal takeoff and landing capability that could deliver 10,000 pounds to a 120 nm polar orbit. The configuration analysis was based on the Beta vehicle design. A cooperative study was performed to redesign and refine the Beta concept to meet the mission requirements. The vehicle resulting from this study was named Beta II. It has an all-airbreathing first stage and a staging Mach number of 6.5. The second stage is a conventional wing-body configuration with a single SSME.
Overview of the Beta II Two-Stage-To-Orbit vehicle design
Aircraft Design Systems and Operations Meeting ; 1991 ; Baltimore, MD, United States
1991-10-01
Aufsatz (Konferenz)
Keine Angabe
Englisch
VentureStar[TM] Single Stage to Orbit Reusable Launch Vehicle Program Overview
British Library Conference Proceedings | 1997
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