X-34: A Prelude to a Military Space Plane

Abstract

The Military Space Plane program represents a major paradigm shift in the way spacecraft and launch vehicles are designed and operated. Now in its formative stages, the Military Space Plane, or MSP, strives for operational goals that blur the distinction between traditional spacecraft, launch vehicles and aircraft both from an operability and design standpoint. The X-34 rocket plane being built by Orbital at its Dulles, Virginia facility, represents a reusable technology testbed for evaluating new developments in launch vehicle subsystems and quick turnaround operations. These aspects of Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) design and operation are critical to achieving an MSP capability early in the 21 century. This paper will review potential objectives being developed by the Air Force for the MSP program, the evolution of the X-34 vehicle, the role of X-34 in furthering RLV technology and finally how X-34 can be utilized as it matures for evaluating additional MSP technology and operations issues. INTRODUCTION The Military Space Plane program is an ambitious undertaking to develop a 21st century space launch and operations capability that is robust, reusable, inexpensive and flexible. Envisioned ultimately as a Single Stage To Orbit (SSTO) vehicle, the MSP must be able to act as a launcher, an on-orbit asset (i.e.: spacecraft), a re-entry vehicle and a weapons delivery system all while being capable of being sortied like a fighter aircraft. Since no vehicle has ever been designed with all these aspects in mind, early demonstration vehicles are imperative to push the technology to meet these goals. As the lead for RLV technology, NASA and its X-33 and X-34 programs are currently trailblazing the path toward these types of capabilities. The X-34 in particular (Figure 1. X-34 in flight) is a testbed to evaluate new RLV subsystems as they are developed and fly them in actual RLV environments. At the same time, the X-34 is intended to demonstrate quick turnaround operations and therefore can also evaluate the maintenance aspects of Figure 1: X-34 in flight 6 1997 by SAE Int'l and the AIAA, all rights reserved Copyright© 1997, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc. new technologies as well as their performance characteristics. As the X-34 begins flight operations late next year, the opportunity exists to begin trials on MSP technology at the component or subsystem level as well as gain insight into the operability of a fully reusable aerospace vehicle.