| SPACE | TRANSPORT : | Xprize : | Michelle B VTOL SSTO |
| Stats | |
| Propulsion : | 6 Pressure Fed LOX Kerosene with Deep Throttle |
| Landing : | Vertical |
| Take off : | Vertical |
| Max Altitude : | 104 km |
| Powered Flight: | 80 sec |
| Max Payload: | 1000 kg |
| Height | 37.4 ft. |
| Width | 7.9 ft. |
| Empty Weight | 17,635 lbs. |
| Take-off Weight | 61,327lbs. |
| Total Payload Capacity | 2,200 lbs. |
| Maximum Thrust per Engine | 30,000 lbs. |
Michelle B the abbreviation of 'Modular Incremental Compact High Energy Low cost Launch Experiment' is USA based TGV Rockets' entry for the x prize.
It will take-off vertically like a conventional rocket and land in the same manner. During re-entry it will slow down using a flexible aero shield. By 'Modular' TGV means that it will have payload flexibilty to allow it to carry anything from satellites to scientific instruments.
Of all Launch & Land techniques, VTOL is considered the simplest, perhaps due to the fact that every rocket that has gone to space has been launched vertically and due to the sucess of the DC-X in displaying VTOL. But some serious technical challeges lie , these include shutting of the engine and restarting it at reduced power (20% in Michelle B) and for TGV, developing a viable aerodynamic braking system.
TGV like most others, considers its vehicle to be a steping stone to bigger, orbital craft.
| Content | Design | |
| tgv-rockets.com : Official Homepage of TGV Rockets | 7/10 | 1+2+4/10 |
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