Three more join USAF’s hybrid vehicle study

^{Rob Coppinger / London}

Andrews Space, Lockheed Martin and Orbital Science have joined Northrop Grumman in receiving contracts to study Hybrid Launch Vehicle (HLV) concepts under the US Air Force’s Operationally Responsive Spacelift programme. The HLV is to place up to 6,800kg (15,000lb) into orbit within 48h. The contracts could lead to a subscale demonstrator, with a full-scale vehicle planned to be operational by 2018.