The Pentagon has awarded a $6.6 million contract to Boeing to design a mini space shuttle that can launch military satellites and space weapons.
The craft, called the XS-1 program (eXperimental Spaceplane 1) is meant to defend against the growing threat of Russian and Chinese space weapons and could launch as early as 2019 for its first test mission, Defense Systems reported.
The Pentagon has been looking to reduce the cost of satellite launches for some time and hopes the new shuttle-like, reusable unmanned vehicle will achieve that goal.
The XS-1 will be able to fly to the edge of Earth’s atmosphere and quickly boost small satellites into orbit and then land, refuel, load up another satellite and take off again within 24 hours, according to Defense System.
“Developing a vehicle that launches small payloads more affordably is a priority for future U.S. Defense Department operations,”said Steve Johnston, director of Boeing’s Phantom Works Advanced Space Exploration division, The Daily Mail reported.
“Boeing brings a combination of proven experience in developing launch systems and reusable space vehicles, along with unparalleled expertise in the development and fielding of highly operable and cost-effective transportation systems.”
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the military’s research arm in charge of the grant, wants the XS-1 to be able to fly as often as 10 times in 10 days and to keep the cost of launches at less than $5 million each.
Boeing must complete its XS-1 design and test its basic technologies before August 2016.
DARPA wants to launch a prototype to perform a realistic trial mission no later than 2019.
After the trial launch, the Pentagon will decide whether or not to build the XS-1 for regular use.
• Kellan Howell can be reached at khowell@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.