Orbital Awarded Contract by U.S. Air Force to Define Hybrid Launch Vehicle Architectures

[Orstio]

Click here to read the article ...

DULLES, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 10, 2006--Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE:ORB) announced today that it has been awarded a research and development contract by the U.S. Air Force for the Hybrid Launch Vehicle (HLV) Studies and Analysis Program. Under this new contract, Orbital will develop operationally responsive space launch designs that combine a reusable first stage with various types of expendable upper stages. This approach will enable lower-cost responsive space access in the near future, while lowering life cycle costs compared to fully reusable or fully expendable systems. 

[TD bgColor=#336699][SPAN class=imagecaption][STRONG][EM][FONT color=#ffffff]Artist's rendering of Orbital's Hybrid Launch Vehicle (HLV) in flight (Photo: Business Wire).[/FONT][. . .

[Astronuc]

Too bad their website is not responding.

Orbital Sciences Awarded Air Force Contract, Financial Terms Not Disclosed

DULLES, Va. (AP) -- Orbital Sciences Corp., a maker of satellites and launch systems, said Wednesday it received a research and development contract from the Air Force to develop space launch designs.

Financial terms were not disclosed. An Orbital representative was not immediately available to comment.

     No representative was available for comment, or questions?    Well most companies do not provide details of a contract, on the other hand, they could give some idea of what it cost.

It will be interesting to see what concepts.  It might be something like Space Ship One and White Knight.  A reusable lauch platform and a one-way-to-orbit vehicle. 

[Orstio]

From the image provided, it looks something like a smaller version of the shuttle, with a SRB strapped to its back, instead of an ET strapped to its belly.

[Astronuc]

The other interesting part will be the propulsion system - will it be pure rocket, or airbreathing as in a ramjet with rocket at higher altitude?