To fly into space will be cheaper

The humanity is pushing into space. However, despite all the successes, any output beyond the earth's atmosphere is associated with significant costs. If someone's willing to launch a personal satellite for less than $ 50 million are unlikely to find a contractor. Rocket launches cost very expensive. In addition, any launch is accompanied by a serious burden on the ecological system of the planet. Add to this load is a waste of energy to create a disposable rocket production which, in turn, also emissions of carbon dioxide and other pollutants.

Perhaps in the near future the situation will change. The newly established Swiss aerospace company S3 claims to be able to put in orbit satellites in just over a quarter of current prices. Such substantial savings can be achieved through the application of new technology start-UPS. To deliver a satellite into orbit, S3 is going to use Airbus Airbus A300 paired with a reusable unmanned space Shuttle. The company believes that it will be able to launch satellites weighing up to 250 pounds in 2017.





"Our program launch has advantages thanks to the technologies previously developed and certified in cooperation of the major players in the aerospace industry, such as the European space Agency, Institute of the Background of the Pocket, Dassault Aviation, Sonaca," said founder and Executive directro S3 Jussi Pascal (Pascal Jaussi).

Airbus with fixed outside the space truck will automatically raise the Shuttle to a height of 10 kilometers, which will start the Shuttle. The latter, using its own engines, will be able to achieve removal from the planet up to 80 kilometers for release on orbit payload. After the mission the Shuttle will return to Earth for reuse.

The advantages of this approach are obvious. First of all, it is much cheaper, does not use disposable expensive equipment and reduces the load on the environment. Also, in theory, Airbus could start from any suitable airport, which eliminates an additional problem of delivery of the satellite to the launch site.





Despite the opportunity, for a land-based program, S3 plans to build Switzerland's private spaceport. Their services to accommodate same spaceport also invited Malaysia and Morocco.

Competition S3 may be an American company Virgin Galactic working on a similar project for the delivery to orbit small satellites and space tourists.

 

Source: /users/104

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