Aevum's Space Launch Plane Is A-5 Vigilante Sized, Its Claims AreEven Bigger

"A little-known U.S. start-up, Aevum, held an online rollout event yesterday for
its Ravn X Autonomous Launch Vehicle, including footage of a full-size
mockup of the aircraft. Established in 2016, the Huntsville, Alabama-based
firm is proposing a reusable drone that will carry an underslung rocket that will,
in turn, launch a small payload, such as a satellite, into low orbit.

The twin-engine Ravn X drone — described by the company as the first stage
of the system — reportedly weighs 55,000 pounds, is 80 feet long, and has a
wingspan of 60 feet — roughly the size of an A-5 Vigilante. The sleek drone,
strongly reminiscent of the smaller Boeing Loyal Wingman in basic
appearance, has seemingly been tailored for speed and will serve as the
“mothership� for a two-stage rocket that is able to carry a payload of just over
1,000 pounds. As such, Aevum classifies the complete Ravn X system as a
three-stage space launch vehicle."

See:

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...re-even-bigger


=================================


Another new space launcher concept:


Radian Aerospace pursues a stealthy and unorthodox plan for
orbital space plane:

"For years, Renton, Wash.-based Radian Aerospace has been working on a
rocket project while holding its cards close to the vest. Now several of the
big puzzle pieces have been put together to reveal what Radian’s
executives and backers have in mind: a rail-launched space plane that
could carry passengers to orbit and back.

The key piece, as reported by Business Insider, is a presentation that
Radian CEO Richard Humphrey delivered to potential investors during a
virtual conference in June. Citing the presentation, Business Insider said
the venture was seeking $20 million in a Series A funding round. The
money would fund further development of the orbital launch system, with
an eye toward beginning flights to orbit as soon as 2025, Business Insider
said."

See:

https://www.geekwire.com/2020/radian...l-space-plane/

In article ,
says...

"A little-known U.S. start-up, Aevum, held an online rollout event yesterday for
its Ravn X Autonomous Launch Vehicle, including footage of a full-size
mockup of the aircraft. Established in 2016, the Huntsville, Alabama-based
firm is proposing a reusable drone that will carry an underslung rocket that will,
in turn, launch a small payload, such as a satellite, into low orbit.

The twin-engine Ravn X drone ? described by the company as the first stage
of the system ? reportedly weighs 55,000 pounds, is 80 feet long, and has a
wingspan of 60 feet ? roughly the size of an A-5 Vigilante. The sleek drone,
strongly reminiscent of the smaller Boeing Loyal Wingman in basic
appearance, has seemingly been tailored for speed and will serve as the
?mothership? for a two-stage rocket that is able to carry a payload of just over
1,000 pounds. As such, Aevum classifies the complete Ravn X system as a
three-stage space launch vehicle."

See:

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...re-even-bigger


I fear this will suffer the same fate as Stratolaunch. Cheap access to
space doesn't start with "design a custom, one-off, carrier aircraft".
In fact, from the article above:

With costs that the company admits are not as competitive as some
space launch rivals, Aevum is hopeful that Ravn X will instead
offer a faster and simpler route to putting payloads into orbit,
thanks to its independence from traditional rocket launch
infrastructure

With a payload of just over 1,000 pounds and a projected cost of $5
million to $7 million per launch, that puts the cost per pound to orbit
at $5,000 to $7,000 per pound.

I wish them luck. They're going to need it.

Jeff
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