X-33 "Venture Star"

X-33 "Venture Star"
(Picture 1)

Kimmo Huosionmaa

X-33 ”Venture Star” was one example of the attempt to build the TAV (Trans-Atmospheric Vehicle) for making the spaceflight cheaper than before. The idea of this plane is to make an aircraft, what can rise above the atmosphere, and launch the satellite to the orbital trajectory. In a fascinating vision this kind of aircraft will pull the satellites behind them in the wire, and when the aircraft makes the ballistic jump outside the atmosphere it will release the satellite, just when it is in the highest point of the ballistic jump.


The trick basics the centrifugal force what will allow the satellite continue it’s flight straight ahead, when the aircraft will turn back to the Earth, and then the trajectory makes that wire like catapult, what will throw the satellite to the LEO (Low Earth Orbiter) The ”Venture Star” doesn’t neccessary need rocket engines, because it might use RAMJET- or SCRAMJET-motors in the athmophere to accerate it’s speed to Mach 6 to 12, and then the vehicle will make the ”space jump”  just outside the athmosphere.

X-33 can be used with Boeing 747 or
another cargo planes like C-5, C-17
and C-130
(picture 2)

The TAV will accelerate its speed in the atmosphere and make the short jump what takes only a couple of minutes to space. The aircraft uses probably hydrogen fuel, and in its nose is the controlling rockets, what will make sure that this aircraft will come to the atmosphere at the right angle. The angle is necessary, because that return to the atmosphere will raise the temperature of the body of the craft very high level, and if the angle of the spacecraft is not right, that thing might cause the melting of the body.


 The ”Venture Star” might use with X-37B with highly secret missions to space. In this scenario the X-37B will launch to the orbiter with ”Venture Star”, and there it will meet the ”Agena” rocket stage, what can be connected to it, for missions what needs very high capacity for maneuvers. But ”X-33” might work also for the strategic bomber. The missions of that vehicle might be as secret as the X-37B, and it might be made to use STEALTH-technology. This kind of weapon systems can fundamental the strategic thinking of the warfare in the 21st. Century. 

Picture 1 https://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/multimedia/imagegallery/X-33/ED97-43938-3.html

Picture 2 https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/images/353337main_ED97-43938-5_full.jpg

YouTube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oYI1CNaGrc

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_Martin_X-33