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In early 1990s, US congress requested to reduce funding for Space Shuttle operations. It is difficult for NASA to reduce costs without affecting safety. Many studies suggest that a Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) designed for quick-turnaround operation after each flight will allow for costs reduction. In 1994, NASA launched the RLV programs to demonstrate technologies of a new generation of space boosters capable of delivering payloads at lower cost. Lockheed Martin was selected as partner for the X-33 development, and Orbital Sciences won contract for the X-34 program. In 1996, the USAF interested in the RLV concept which has potential to become operational military space plane. A competition calling for advanced RLV started. Boeing won contracts to develop the X-37 launch vehicle and X-40A aerodynamic testbed. The X-40A first drop-tested in 1998. In 2001, due to budget cut, both the X-33 and X-34 were cancelled while the X-33 85% completed and the X-34 took place first unpowered flight. In 2002, Orbital Sciences has presented a design for the USAF's reusable solution to the upper stage requirement. It became the X-42 still-classified space project.

Type:

Purpose:

Wingspan.:

Length:

Engine:

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Max.speed:

Crew:

Reusable launch vehicle

To demonstrate and verify the new RLV technologies.

72ft.5in.(X-33) / 27ft.8in.(X-34) / 15ft.(X-37) / 11ft.6in.(X-40A) / 33ft.8in.(X-42)

66ft.7in.(X-33) / 58ft.4in.(X-34) / 27ft.6in.(X-37) / 22ft.(X-40A) / 53ft.10in.(X-42)

1x Rocketdyne J-2S aerospike engine (X-33)

1x Rocketdyne MC-1 Fastrac rocket engine (X-34)

1x Rocketdyne AR2-3 rocket engine (X-37)

none (X-40A)

1x Rocketdyne RS-27 rocket engine (X-42)

12000mph(X-33) / 5360mph(X-34) / 16750mph(X-23) / 100mph(X-40A) / unknown(X-42)

none

The X-33, X-34, X-37, X-40A, X-42 are suitable to group with the following collection series.

International RLV

Avatar RLV

Boeing X-37

Boeing X-40A

Canadian Arrow

Dassault Hermes

Kistler Aerospace K-1

Lockheed X-33A

McDonnell-Douglas DC-X

NPO Energia Kliper

Orbital Sciences X-34

Orbital Sciences X-42 Pop-up Upper stage

PlanetSpace Silver Dart

Scale-Composites X-38 CRV

Spaceship Co. Space Ship One

Spaceship Co. Space Ship Two

XCOR Areospace Lynx Reocketplane

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U.S. Experimantal aircraft "X-Planes"

Bell X-1

Bell X-2

Douglas X-3 Stilletto

Northrop X-4 Bantam

Bell X-5

Convair X-6

Lockheed X-7

Aerojet General X-8 Aerobee

Bell X-9 Shrike

North Ameriacn X-10

Convair X-11 Atlas A

Convair X-12 Atlas B

Ryan X-13 Vertijet

Bell X-14

Northrop American X-15

Bell X-16 Bald Eagle

Lockheed X-17

Hiller X-18

Curtiss-Wright X-19

Boeing X-20 Dyna-Soar

Northrop X-21A

Bell X-22A

Martin Mariette X-23A PRIME

Martin Mariette X-24A/B

Bensen X-25

Schweizer X-26A / Lockheed X-26B Q-Star

Lockheed X-27 Lancer

Pereira X-28A Osprey

Grumman X-29A

Boeing X-30A

Rockwell International / MBB X-31A

Boeing X-32A

Lockheed X-33A

Orbital Sciences X-34

Lockheed Martin X-35A

Boeing X-36

Boeing X-37

Scale-Composites X-38 CRV

X-39 (unknown)

Boeing X-40A

Boeing X-41 CAV

Orbital Sciences X-42 Pop-up Upper stage

Micro Craft X-43A Hyper-X

Lockheed Martin / NASA X-44 Manta

Boeing X-45A UAV

Boeing X-46

Northrop Grumman X-47 Pegasus

Boeing / NASA X-48

X-49 (unknown)

Boeing / DARPA X-50 Dragonfly

Boeing X-51A

X-52 (unknown)

NASA X-53 AAW