SHARP Spaceplane
Hypersonic Bomber & Transport
- PSAN-I Ammonium Nitrate & Propellants
- SHARP Spaceplane
- Small Launch Vehicle
- Sounding Rockets
- Liquid Oxygen Monopropellants
- Lunar Soil Propellant (LSP)
- Lunar Bases & Lunar Concrete
- Small Launch Vehicle
- Pintle Nozzle With Thrust Vector Control
Wickman Spacecraft & Propulsion Company (WSPC) is working on developing a Spaceplane based on NASA's SHARP thermal protection system, which enables sharp edges on reentry vehicles. The initial application of the SHARP Spaceplane will be a hypersonic bomber capable of rapid, high launch rates to orbit to deploy Common Aero Vehicles (CAVs) or put satellites into orbit. This hypersonic space bomber will evolve into a larger spaceplane capable of carrying passengers.
The SHARP thermal protection system and basic aerodynamic design originates from the NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California. The key to maintaining the sharp edges of the vehicle during reentry is the revolutionary SHARP thermal protection material. It can withstand heat and aerodynamic forces that will destroy Space Shuttle tiles. Click here to download and play the SHARP thermal protection demonstration video. (file size 739K). The advantages of WSPC's sharp edge spaceplanes over conventional blunt body vehicles are numerous.
- Reduction Of Aerodynamic Drag By 90%
- Mach 7 at Sea Level Without Ablation
- Mach 11 at 100,000 Feet Without Ablation
- No Ionization Layer During Reentry
- No Communications Blackout During Reentry
- Active and Passive Sensors During All Phases of Reentry
- Thermal Protection System Is In Pristine Condition After Reentry
- Hemispherical Cross Range - Can Land At Either Pole From Equatorial Orbit
- Rapid Response and Turn Around Between Missions
- Affordable Vehicle and Operational Costs
In 2010, WSPC will begin a flight test program using subscale models of the full scale vehicle. Initial tests will focus on the ascent and descent phase of a typical mission. Subscale spaceplanes will be fitted with rocket engines and control systems. As the program continues, the vehicles will be scaled up size so that they can takeoff and land from airport runways. All initial test flights will be unmanned.