UK company Starchaser plans to launch a modified version of its Nova booster carrying a passenger on a low-altitude sub-orbital flight to test spacecraft recovery systems by the end of next year.
The flight will prepare the company for its attempt to win the $10 million X-Prize using a Thunderbird rocket to launch three passengers on two successive sub-orbital 100km (160 mile) space flights in 2004.
The 11m- (36ft) long, solid- propellant Nova (above), carrying a payload of 750kg (1,650lb), was launched from Morecambe Sands, UK, on 22 November on a flight to an altitude of 5,530ft (1,688m) to test booster and recovery systems.
The company believes that to achieve its goals it will have to move to the USA where there is the infrastructure to support the 16m-high, Thunderbird liquid propellant-powered booster. The first Thunderbird test launch is scheduled for August 2003.
Source: Flight International