On The Rocketry Forum, Andrew K (BSNW) posted:"Pretty sure the Leo Space-Train is copy of this...
https://www.space.com/boeing-withdraws-darpa-military-space-plane.html
Which is pretty darn cool. Too Bad they canceled the program. I hope Estes comes out with more real-world looking kits. Would love to see very close approximations of stuff from ULA, ESA, Orbital ATK, JAXA, Space-X, etc. Lots of possibilities."
Boeing's Phantom Express XS-1 space plane design is shown in launch position in this artist's concept. The autonomous spacecraft is designed to launch vertically, deploy a second stage payload into orbit and return to Earth for a runway landing. (Image: © Boeing)
Phantom Express won't get off the ground after all.
Boeing has withdrawn from Experimental Spaceplane (XSP), a U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) program designed to increase the nation's access to space.
Hmmm...as far as more “approximations” of commercial rockets and spacecraft I think using US “X” research vehicles as inspiration probably gives Estes enough wiggle room to not receive any cease and desist letters - if they try the same thing with primarily private rockets, probably not so much.
ReplyDeletePersonally I think the currently classified follow-on to the X-37 plus the growing availability of commercial launch capabilities made the XSP obsolete before Boeing needed to spend money on an operational prototype. Shame though, Phantom Express is a great name for a stealthy robot spaceplane!
Boeing is still learning how to keep a plane in the air....they have enough on thier plate as it is ....
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