From: Henny van der Pluijm <hvdp@worldonline.nl>
Date: Sun, 1 Feb 1998 20:50:59 +0100 (MET)
Fwd Date: Tue, 03 Feb 1998 17:38:42 -0500
Subject: Re: Help needed...
>Date: Fri, 30 Jan 1998 07:45:48 -0500
>To: UFO UpDates - Toronto <updates@globalserve.net>
>From: Bob Shell <bob@bobshell.com>
>Subject: Help needed
>Hi everyone,
>Some time ago and I am pretty sure it was on this list
>there was a post about NASA having trouble getting
>R&D funding for an engine for their proposed space plane.
>As I recall it, the Air Force said something like "No problem,
>you can use ours." This blew everybody at NASA away because
>it revealed that the Air Force already had such an engine,
>and maybe even such a plane.
>I can't find that exchange now, and I wonder if anyone
>here recalls it or saved it.
Bob,
I don't remember that exchange, but maybe this helps. I happen to
be writing an article on commercial space travel.
The space plane you probably refer to is the X-33, an
experimental plane that is now under construction. First flight
due somewhere next year.
The X-33 uses a so called aerospike engine, a highly efficient
engine design that is one of the technologies used to make this
plane Single Stage To Orbit.
The design principles are not new. Rocketdyne has been
experimenting with the technology since the 1960s. In the
articles I read from the New Scientist, Air International and
from the web sites of Lockheed, NASA and Aviation Week, there is
no mention that the engine design is owned by the USAF. The
consensus seems to be that the original funding was provided by a
government organization ($ 500 mln), but the identity is not
provided. Of course, this could be the USAF.
Given that the X-33 engine is a Rocketdyne engine, the design
seems to be owned by Rocketdyne.
The X-33 is the precusor to the Lockheed Venture Star, the
supposed successor to the Space Shuttle. It will be operated by
Lockheed and operational in 2005, hopefully.
Btw. research for my article shows that the worldwide
expenditures on commercial space travel will surpass official
government spending shortly. Around 2005 commercial expenditures
will be around $ 70 bn, twice as much as official government
spending and twice as much as the total acknowledged spending on
black budget projects.
__________________________________________
/ Met vriendelijke groet/Best wishes \
Henny van der Pluijm
hvdp@worldonline.nl
Technology Pages
http://home.worldonline.nl/~hvdp
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