Interorbital Systems
| Industry | Aerospace |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1996 |
| Headquarters | Mojave, California |
|
Key people
|
Rod Milliron and Randa Milliron (founders) |
| Products | Orbital rocket launch Commercial Orbital Transportation Services |
| Website | http://www.interorbital.com/ |
Interorbital Systems Corporation (IOS) is an American aerospace manufacturer based in Mojave, California. It was founded in 1996 by Roderick and Randa Milliron, who also co-founded Trans Lunar Research.
Interorbital Systems is currently working on a line of launch vehicles aimed at winning the Google Lunar X Prize. The company was also a competitor for both the Ansari X Prize[1] and America's Space Prize.[2]
Contents
Research and development
In 2007, Interorbital Systems claimed to be pursuing two separate lines of research.[3] The first being Sea Star TSAAHTO, a small rocket capable of delivering small satellite payloads into orbit,[4] which would generate capital for pursuing the companies flagship program: the Neptune; a line of launch vehicles designed to put humans into orbit.[5]
Common Propulsion Module
All of Interorbital's rocket designs are based on the Common Propulsion Module (CPM). The CPM is a small, self-contained rocket system. Multiple CPMs are combined through parallel staging to meet varying mission requirements. Though they have experimented with cryogenic fuel, Interorbital currently uses hypergolic White fuming nitric acid and Turpentine for oxidizer and fuel. The CPM is designed to maximize simplicity - it uses no turbopumps and no ignition system (because of the hypergolic propellants).[6]
The Common Propulsion Module Test Vehicle (CPM TV) performed its first successful test flight on March 29, 2014. The payloads included two CubeSats, a SYNERGY MOON payload and a Red Hot Chili Peppers album. The rocket reached an altitude of 10,000 feet and will be reused for the next test flight. All payloads were recovered intact; these payloads were not released to orbit.[7][not in citation given][dead link]
Orbital spaceflight program
Neptune[8] is a line of launch vehicles, consisting of the Neptune 30, the Neptune 45, the Neptune 1000, and the Neptune TSAAHTO. All of these configurations are based on combinations of "common propulsion modules" (CPM, essentially long tubes of rocket fuel). The liquid oxidizer and fuel used is white fuming nitric acid (WFNA) and Turpentine or Furfuryl alcohol.[8]
The Neptune 45's maiden launch was planned for 2011, but as of March 2014 no flights had taken place, as the CPM component was being test-launched for the first time.[7] As of mid-2010, Interorbital Systems claimed a manifest to deliver 32 TubeSats and 10 CubeSats.
- The Neptune 30 delivers 30 kilo payloads into low Earth orbit. It is a three-stage rocket composed of five CPM.
- The Neptune 45 delivers 45 kilo payloads into low Earth orbit. It is a three-stage rocket composed of seven CPM. These two configurations are intended for launching CubeSats, TubeSats, and other small satellites.
- The Neptune 1000 is designed to launch a one tonne payload into low-earth orbit or a 190 kg payload to Earth escape velocity. The rocket is composed of 33 common propulsion modules, and makes up the Interorbital Systems's contribution to SYNERGY MOON a three-company attempt to win the Google Lunar X Prize.
- The Neptune TSAAHTO, the largest design, can be fitted to carry either cargo or human passengers. To do so, the Crew Module has been designed. This space capsule is to be capable of housing five crew members and a pilot, and sits atop the Neptune TSAAHTO during launch. The rocket itself is composed of eight large common propulsion modules and eight small common propulsion modules and can place a 7,000-pound payload into a 250-mile 51° orbit.
Sounding rockets
Interorbital Systems has successfully tested a number of rocket engines in the 500-5,000 lbf (2 to 22 kN) thrust range and conducted flight tests of its small testbed, Neutrino. Neutrino is a sounding rocket designed for low-altitude suborbital flight, for the purpose of testing systems of its larger follow-on rockets.
IOS holds an active Office of Commercial Space Transportation Launch License for Tachyon,[9] a sounding rocket designed for a 120-mile apogee suborbital flight.
Retired designs
SolarX was a suborbital rocket design that was IOS' attempt to win the Ansari X Prize. It did not get off the ground in time and was beaten by Scaled Composites' SpaceShipOne.[10]
See also
- Private spaceflight
- Orbital spaceflight
- Sub-orbital spaceflight
- OTRAG, which used a similar modular rocket design
- FreeFly Astronaut Project
References
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- ↑ 7.0 7.1 http://www.interorbital.com/interorbital_03302014_018.htm
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