Virginia-based Transformational Space (T/Space) has drop-tested a 23%-scale model of the 26m (85ft)-long air-launched booster for the Crew Transfer Vehicle (CXV) it is offering NASA as a crew launch system.

Three model boosters were released from Scaled Composites’ Proteus aircraft, flying from Mojave, California, to test the trapeze-lanyard air drop launch system. The drops took place from 7,000ft, and the inert models were destroyed by the free fall.

“Operationally the CXV booster would be launched from a carrier aircraft at 25,000ft,” says president David Gump. The tests were part of T/Space’s $6 million concept exploration and refinement contract for NASA’s exploration systems office, which ends in September. In August a full size, accurately weighted dummy crew capsule will be dropped from 10,000ft

Source: Flight International