Abstract

Reusable suborbital launch vehicles are being developed and flown by many companies with a frequency that will change the way people access space. These vehicles have unique capabilities that will enable technology development and scientific breakthroughs in a number of fields, including geoscience.

Masten Space Systems is a developer of reusable launch vehicles with the capability to take hover and land vertically. These vehicles have completed hundreds of flights since 2009, including demonstrations of next-generation precision landing technologies that will pave the way for scientifically interesting precision landings on the moon and Mars. Masten Space Systems is also developing unmanned reusable suborbital launch vehicles for high altitude scientific and technology demonstration missions. Masten’s customers to date include NASA, the Charles Stark Draper Laboratory and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Masten contemplates providing reusable suborbital launch vehicles that can take off and land from the same launch pad, hover or fly specific flight profiles in 3D space, and be flown multiple times every day. These vehicles are developed entirely in-house, from propulsion systems to software, and utilize as many off-the-shelf components as possible in an effort to lower the barriers of access to space.

In this presentation, Masten Space Systems will present current vehicle and operations as well as future operational capabilities. This will include vehicle capabilities, operational models, discussion of mobile operations, past work, and future launch opportunities. By presenting this information alongside manned vehicle developer XCOR Aerospace, Masten hopes to spark a discussion between geoscientists and the reusable suborbital launch vehicle industry on potential collaboration opportunities.