DARPA
reveals design of its
space plane for
faster, cheaper satellite launches
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Launching satellites into orbit could get a lot
cheaper thanks to an experimental
space plane.*
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This week, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) revealed the
design for the XS-1, which is set to be built by Boeing. The hypersonic aircraft would launch vertically, deploy a second stage to carry a
satellite into orbit, and then land like a **rmal airplane.*
Although the aircraft is still in the concept phase,
DARPA believes the final result will be a vehicle that will provide "short-**tice, low-cost access to space" for both military and commercial use. Initial tests of the XS-1 tech**logy will attempt 10 flights over the course of 10 days with the ultimate goal being routine low-Earth orbit flights for around $5 million or less per launch. (Currently, it costs SpaceX
about $62 million to launch its Falcon 9 rocket into orbit.)
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