The American company JP Aerosapce conducted the first tests of the prototype space of the airship, the aircraft is lighter than air, which will be used as one stage of a system for payload delivery to orbit. As written by Aviation Week, the tests were successful, and in some respects the unit exceeded the estimated figures.
Launch various payloads into orbit today is done by means of rockets. These devices consist of several steps and require a long preparation to launch. With the delivery of cargo into space using rockets is quite expensive, mainly due to high cost levels of disposable media.
Developed by JP Aerospace system will significantly simplify and reduce the cost of launching payloads into space. During testing of space airship called the Ascender 36, the device could rise to a height of 4.1 thousand meters, and its climb rate was 177 feet per minute. The corresponding estimates for the first flight was a little less.
Ascender 36 is a miniature technology demonstrator. A V-shaped hull of the apparatus is a gas volume with a composite inner frame. The volume inside is divided into several sections, filled with helium. Pumping the helium from section to section, the operator of the device can change the trajectory of its flight, raising or lowering the bow.
Full camera Ascender, according to JP Aerospace, will be able to rise to a height of 42.7 per thousand meters. He will be the first step in the system, which is an American company called Airship to Orbit. Up to a predetermined height, the Ascender with a payload on Board will be dockable to the second stage — suborbital station inflator Dark Sky Station.
The station will be equipped with a launching platform for spacecraft Orbital Ascender. To take off from the platform this device will be the same as the airship. Reaching a height of 60.9 thousand meters, the ship will include a hybrid electrochemical engine. Due to the thrust propulsion Orbital Ascender can accelerate to orbital speed is more than 20 Mach numbers (6.8 kilometers per second).
The development of the project Airship to Orbit since 1999. When it is planned to complete the project is unknown. The company will have to find the solution of many technical problems. In particular, for the third stage of the system will need to find light, but very durable and highly heat resistant materials that can withstand heating during acceleration to orbital velocity.
Today is actively conducting research in the field of creation of aircraft lighter than air, capable of rising to greater heights. In 2009 was launched the unmanned research balloon BU60-1, developed by the aerospace exploration Agency of Japan. He set the altitude record among the devices of this class, being able to rise to 53 thousand meters.
