CAPSLOCKSTUCK
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Mountain View-based firm CubeCab wants to fire microsatellites into orbit from high altitude fighter jets.
By packing tiny CubeSats into a rocket-like canister and launching them at more than 100,000 feet, the space firm claims it will slash the costs of sending lightweight space tech into low Earth orbit.
CubeCab plans to shake things up by attaching its satellite payload to a fleet of ageing fighter jets, which first saw military service in the 1950s.
The F-104 jets are operated by Starfighters Aerospace, which launches its fleet from Cape Canaveral in Florida, the home of Nasa’s space missions.
Starfighters’ fleet is made up of retired F-104 jets from the Italian Air Force, which were taken out of service in 2004.
In order to launch micro satellites, a small rocket containing them is attached to the pylons under the wings – which would have been used to attach bombs mission during military runs.
Once launched from Cape Canaveral, the jets will reach altitudes of more than 100,000 feet, before the rocket launches and the canister of microsatellites is released into orbit.
According to CubeCab, it will be able to launch microsatellites weighing no more than 5 kg (11 lbs) into low Earth orbit for $250,000 (£190,000), opening up commercial satellite delivery to more research institutions and businesses.
BBC Future
CubeCab and Starfighters are not the only ones looking at the approach.
Last year the US military said it would cut the cost of satellite launches to less than $1,000,000 (£760,000) by using fighter jets to launch them into orbit.
After take-off, F-15 jets would ascend near vertically until they reach high altitude. A rocket would then launch to deliver the payload into low earth orbit.
A concept video outlined the launch procedure, in which Darpa claims the Airborne Launch Assist Space Access (Alasa) programme will slash the cost of taking space technology into orbit.
By packing tiny CubeSats into a rocket-like canister and launching them at more than 100,000 feet, the space firm claims it will slash the costs of sending lightweight space tech into low Earth orbit.
CubeCab plans to shake things up by attaching its satellite payload to a fleet of ageing fighter jets, which first saw military service in the 1950s.
The F-104 jets are operated by Starfighters Aerospace, which launches its fleet from Cape Canaveral in Florida, the home of Nasa’s space missions.
Starfighters’ fleet is made up of retired F-104 jets from the Italian Air Force, which were taken out of service in 2004.
In order to launch micro satellites, a small rocket containing them is attached to the pylons under the wings – which would have been used to attach bombs mission during military runs.
Once launched from Cape Canaveral, the jets will reach altitudes of more than 100,000 feet, before the rocket launches and the canister of microsatellites is released into orbit.
According to CubeCab, it will be able to launch microsatellites weighing no more than 5 kg (11 lbs) into low Earth orbit for $250,000 (£190,000), opening up commercial satellite delivery to more research institutions and businesses.
BBC Future
CubeCab and Starfighters are not the only ones looking at the approach.
Last year the US military said it would cut the cost of satellite launches to less than $1,000,000 (£760,000) by using fighter jets to launch them into orbit.
After take-off, F-15 jets would ascend near vertically until they reach high altitude. A rocket would then launch to deliver the payload into low earth orbit.
A concept video outlined the launch procedure, in which Darpa claims the Airborne Launch Assist Space Access (Alasa) programme will slash the cost of taking space technology into orbit.