Spacecab as a LowCost Launcher

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Spacecab as a Low-Cost Launcher
Presented to BNSC RT Workshop on Satellite
Formation Flying 23 June 2006 byDavid Ashford
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Conclusions

• Spaceplanes could have been built 30 years ago
• Replacing expendable launchers
• Launch costs would now be 100 times less
• Spacecab offers low development and launch costs
• UK can lead spaceflight revolution

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Saunders-Roe SR.53 Rocket Fighter, 1957
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EUROPEAN SPACEPLANE PROJECTS OF THE 1960s
HSA
BAC
Dassault
Junkers
ERNO
Bristol Siddeley
Bolkow
ERNO
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THE ASCENDER SUB-ORBITAL SPACEPLANE
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Ascender
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Spacecab
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SpaceShipOne
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Book Cover
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Conclusions

• Spaceplanes could have been built 30 years ago
• Replacing expendable launchers
• Launch costs would now be 100 times less
• Spacecab offers low development and launch costs
• UK can lead spaceflight revolution
• Technology, projects, not committed to white
  elephants
• Bristol Spaceplanes looking for strategic partners