Sky's the limit
Rocketplane's design unveiled
Rocketplane's design unveiled

By Ja’Rena Lunsford

Published: October 27, 2007

Keeping quiet about what is happening behind the doors at Rocketplane Global has not won the company much public praise — and that's no secret to Rocketplane leaders.

"We've been our own worst enemy because we've been quiet,” program manager David Faulkner said.

Rocketplane took a step toward openness Friday when the Oklahoma City company revealed the new design of the XP, the spacecraft that is scheduled to take tourists beyond the Earth in 2010.

The new airframe is based on Rocketplane's own design, unlike the original, which was a modification of a Learjet.

"We looked at the costs and it was almost as much to modify a Learjet as it was to build a Rocketplane,” Faulkner said.

Other changes to the spacecraft are the tail — now a T-tail instead of V-tail — new jet engines and increased capacity. Rocketplane's initial design held four people, including the pilot. The new XP will hold six people.

"We needed to increase the capacity so we could better address the market,” Faulkner said.

He said the previous airframe could not handle the increased capacity.

The change in tail design will help reduce weight on the spacecraft, while the new J-85 afterburning engines will increase performance thrust, Faulkner said.

"We'll get up to 40,000 feet before the rocket is lit,” he said. "Before, it would get up to 25,000 feet.”

Rocketplane Global unveiled the new design Friday at the X Prize Cup at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico.

Company spokesman George French III said announcing the new design at the X Prize made sense because the event is geared toward people interested and involved in space tourism.

"It's a huge industry day” French said.

French and Faulkner said the changes made to the XP will allow the company to increase revenue — more seats mean more paying customers — and focus on the passenger experience.

"We are far enough into the engineering that we can bring in the aesthetics,” Faulkner said.

Interior designs such as the type of fabric on the seats and lighting are under way for the XP.

Although Rocketplane Global has put a lot of work — 200,000 hours — into the XP design, the work is not finished.

Testing cabin pressure, valves and other systems are next on the list, along with building the airframe, which will take place next year. Rocketplane Global will start with two spacecrafts and then build one every six to nine months, Faulkner said. He said the company also is seeking a new round of investors.

"There is quite a bit that still has to go on,” Faulkner said. "We've pretty much laid the foundation to getting it to fly.”

Comments