Important Innovations Collection

Is It China's Version of the USAF X-37B Spaceplane? Source:  USAF X-37B Spaceplane  New Space Vehicle Shrouded in Mystery China has successfully launched an experimental reusable spacecraft.  It was deployed into orbit Friday onboard a Long March 2F rocket.  The mystery space vehicle successfully landed at a designated location, presumably in China, today.  The Chinese news agency Xinhua calls the space vehicle a breakthrough that will lead to more frequent round trips to space at a greatly reduced cost.  The big question:  is it China's version of the top secret, US Air Force X-37B spaceplane? Low Key Mission with No Photos The Chinese government has kept the mission very low key.  No photos of the spacecraft have been distributed and no details provided on the technology involved.  But there is a great deal of speculation that the vehicle may be the Chinese version of the USAF's top secret X-37B spaceplane.  The X-37B is an autonomous ...

Germany Spearheads Reusable Rocket Concept Source:  DLR Model  FALcon Project Six international European Union partners are working on project FALcon.  Germany's space agency DLR is leading the way.  They've begun a space vehicle reusability study.  The plan is to catch rockets in flight and tow them back to earth by a separate aircraft so that they can be reused. Winged Boosters The reusable rocket concept includes a winged first stage booster.  The booster would be caught while in descent by an aircraft that trails the rocket after liftoff.  The aircraft would tow the winged booster toward a landing area.  The booster would then be released by the aircraft to glide to the ground and be available for another space mission. 2028 This is a 3 year study that just got underway.  The European Union has provided initial funding of $3 million.  The team hopes to have the system at the Technology Readiness Level by 2028....