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As many as 6 X-Prize hopefuls have commited themselves to the HTOL TSTO route. These are :
Ascender, Cosmos Mariner and XVan2001 will use conventional turbofan engines to reach a desired height where they will fire their rocket engines to reach higher altitudes. The turbofans will also be used to land. This will allow them to operate from existing airports and air traffic control under existing FAA regulations, an issue which VTOL(Vertical Take-Off and Landing) rockets have yet to address.
Aurora and Kitten use rockets only.
If it works these designs will be most desirable due to their uncomplicated operation, though not necessarily the cheapest.
The concept of reaching even sub-orbit is very tough if you want to do it in a single go. This being the reason Pioneer Rocketplane opted for the 'one and a half' stage to orbit design while Kelly Space & Technology has decided to take a little help from a Boeing 747 (see their sections for more details).
| Stats | |
| Length : | 13.7 m |
| Wingspan : | 7.9 m |
| Max. Weight(fueled) : | 4500 kg |
| Max. Speed : | Mach 4.5 |
| Max. Height : | 100 km |
| Total Flight Time : | 30 min |
Ascender is a sub-orbital spaceplane from Bristol Spaceplanes carrying two crew and two passengers and is intended to provide proof-of-concept for the development of the Spacecab & Spacebus spaceplanes. It is capable of reaching space (though not orbit). Ascender is intended to return commercial revenues through its passenger carrying capability.
The Ascender claims to use existing technology to accomplish the feat. As mentioned before, it will not be a cakewalk. But if they do succeed,then nothing like it.
| Stats | |
| Length : | 10.4 m |
| Propulsion : | 2 J-85 jet + 1 rocket engine |
| Wingspan : | 7 m |
| Max. Weight(fueled) : | 3.6 tons gross |
| Max. Speed : | Mach 3.8 |
| Max Altitude : | 101 kms |
XVan2001 is another HTOL-1STO spaceplane in the contest. It is proposed by Pan Aero,Inc (US). Pretty similar to the Ascender, it uses similar configuration and flight pattern. XVan2001 is Pan Aero's newer XPrize concept. Their earlier design used an airframe and engines designed by Yakovlev Design Bureau. This was not possible to implement under the U.S. Laws. The original xvan was a VTOL concept and hence more expensive too.
The Cosmos Mariner is a technologically advanced 4 passenger spaceplane design from the company Dynamica Research.
The rocket engines are planned to use jet fuel which is considerably less volatile than liquid hydrogen. Cosmos Mariner requires advanced but undeveloped technologies though not all of them will be needed for sub-orbital flight.
| Stats | |
| Length : | 6.0 m |
| Propulsion : | 3 ceramic and composite engines each 4,880 lb thrust |
| Wingspan : | 5.25 m |
| Max. Weight(fueled) : | 3.20 tons gross |
| Max. Speed : | Mach 4 |
| Max Altitude : | 235 kms |
Kitten is Cerulean Freight Forwarding Company's entry for the X-Prize. It is a small craft that will use 3 rocket engines (LOX + propane or methane) for power. Its design is pretty simple unlike the Ascender, Xvan and CosmosMariner, which also have jet engines on board.
CFFC claims to have gathered more than 50% of the funding and that they will complete the project in 18 months after full funding. Kitten will have the capability to launch microsatellites(30-50kg) to 750 km high polar LEO using an expendable 2nd stage. This adds more safety to their business model.
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