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Astroliner

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Status: Design 2002. Payload: 5,000 kg (11,000 lb). Height: 48.00 m (157.00 ft). Diameter: 6.20 m (20.30 ft). Apogee: 185 km (114 mi).

After separation from the 747 towing aircraft at 6,000 m and Mach 0.8, the Astroliner would boost itself to 2750 m/s and 110 km altitude before releasing an expendable upper stage (4.2 m diameter x 7.6 m long) and payload (4.85 meter diameter x 7.56 meter long). The upper stage was capable of delivering a 5,000 kg payload into a 185 km 28.5 deg orbit at a cost per launch of $ 22 million - 40% of the cost of existing launchers.

Following release of the upper stage, Astroliner would continue on its suborbital trajectory, re-enter the atmosphere, and land at a conventional runway. The contemporary Pioneer Rocketplane Pathfinder design of the same period had a similar approached, but used aerial refueling instead of towing to reach a similar launch point. The first operational flight for the Astroliner was planned in 1999 for early 2002.

Crew Size: 1. LEO Payload: 5,000 kg (11,000 lb) to a 185 km orbit at 28.00 degrees. Launch Price $: 22.000 million in 1999 dollars.