boeing agrees to build phantom express spaceplane for DARPA

the ‘phantom express’ is envisioned as an autonomous, experimental spaceplane, shown preparing to launch its expendable second stage on the top of the vehicle in this artist’s concept rendering. DARPA has agreed to collaborate with boeing to fund development of the experimental spaceplane ‘XS-1’ program. together they aim to create an unmanned, hypersonic, reusable spaceplane that will launch small satellites into low earth orbit.

all images© boeing / DARPA

boeing will develop the ‘phantom express’ spaceplane capable of carrying and deploying a small expendable upper stage to launch small (3,000 pound / 1,361 kg) satellites into orbit. the american aerospace corporation and DARPA will jointly invest in the development. once the spaceplane reaches the edge of space, it will deploy the second stage and return to earth. landing back on the runway, it would then be prepared for its next flight using operation and maintenance principles similar to modern aircraft.

the ‘aerojet rocketdyne AR-22 engine’, a version of the ‘legacy space shuttle’s’ main engine, would power the ‘phantom express’. it is designed to be reusable and operates using liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen fuel. the spaceplane would offer an advanced airframe design, plus third-generation thermal protection, to create a vehicle capable of flying at high flight velocity, while carrying a smaller, more affordable expendable upper stage to achieve the mission objectives.

‘phantom express is designed to disrupt and transform the satellite launch process as we know it today, creating a new, on-demand space-launch capability that can be achieved more affordably and with less risk’, comments darryl davis, president, boeing phantom works.