Radian One unveils plans for single-stage to orbit spaceplane

https://newatlas.com ^ | January 23, 2022 | By David Szondy

[T.B. Yoits]

The artist rendered a far outdated design. Rutan’s “shuttlecock” design eliminates the need for expensive insulating tiles for entry at high speeds.

[Sparticus]

Yikes... a super catapult launched space plane. Low altitude bird strikes will be catastrophic.

[Vaquero]

I imagine an aerospike engine that could breathe air while air was still present then LOX once no O2 is left in the atmosphere .

[Red Badger]

Looks more like a Wiffleball...................

[Berosus]

Back in the 1960s, I watched a kid’s show called “Fireball XL-5,” where the acting was all done by puppets. The rocket on that show was launched from a horizontal track, like this one.

[rktman]

Bird strikes? No worries. The proposed 30 million acre wind farm in the Gulf of Mexico will eliminate a few birds.

[1Old Pro]

Startup Radian Aerospace has emerged from stealth to announce it has secured US$27.5 million in seed funding to develop a single-stage to orbit (SSTO) spaceplane called Radian One, which is designed to lift and land horizontally.

Like a mothballed space shuttle?

[Red Badger]

The noise would scare any and all birds away within 25 miles!..............

[Magnum44]

[Red Badger]

[Red Badger]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8C8pyuOO5U

[ProtectOurFreedom]

“launch horizontally using a rocket-powered sled”

How long is the track? How big is the ramp at the end of the track?

I guess this precludes manned space launches. It would scramble your brain and innards.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

You dolt! Read the article: “crewed missions of up to five days”

So these won’t be 10g to 12g rocket sled accelerations.

[bigbob]

Yeah, I’m sure the designers never thought of that...

[Telepathic Intruder]

A “single-stage to orbit spaceplane”. That was the original goal of the Space Shuttle program back in the 80’s: a cheap way to get into space. The result was only slightly less expensive to launch than an expendable rocket, and could only be used for low earth orbit missions. In other words, a failure. Can they do better today? I won’t hold my breath. I thought we would have cities on the moon by now.

[Publius]

Fireball XL-5 opening and theme

[Red Badger]

Heinlein envisioned a ramp up Kit’s Peak...................

[Magnum44]

It will have to be pretty good to beat current designs...

[TexasGator]

“A “single-stage to orbit spaceplane”. That was the original goal of the Space Shuttle ... “

Never designed as single stage.