Markus Baur wrote in newsAKEb.146722
:

one thing that has not yet mentioned (at least i could not find any
mention of this) is the opportunity of using SSO as a manned sounding
rocket ..

it fills a gap betwenn current zero G planes, current sounding rockets
and actual satellites - offering much longer zero gee time then the
planes, larger payload then most sounding rockets at comaratively low
price with the chance to easily refly experiments - AND - to fly maned
experiments ..

i would guess a number of resaerch institutions and universites might
be very interested in this .. your opinion ?

Don't see why it couldn't be used as a launcher for a sounding rocket,
or a multistage light satellite launcher. The hybrid motor is pushing
a heavy mass to a pretty good altitude; how high would it go by itself
and a small payload?

I would not be surprised to see them try this, or perhaps it's their
real goal.

--Damon