Space Planes - The Future of RApid, LOW-COST Launch

Imagine fleets of Space Planes providing regular space launch service,
making space launch as simple as taking off from any runway in the world.

Easy access to space will generate great economic value
—and along the way, the priceless benefits of perspective and freedom.

High Cost of Rocket Launch

Most rockets are vertically launched and "staged", resulting in high costs due to complex ground equipment and handling procedures, and typically, one-time use of significant portions of the vehicles. Vertical launch also restricts operations to a limited number of dedicated launch sites, such as the five active sites in the U.S.  This limitation creates delays to launch payloads and has raised strategic concerns about assured space access.

Despite all of the innovation that has occurred in space launch over the past 65+ years, even the most advanced systems today use vertical launch and staging in the same way as those at the dawn of the Space Age.

ATRX Space Planes

ATRX is re-thinking space launch and has a vision to develop Space Planes that can operate from runways, require only modest ground support and are fully reusable, just like conventional aircraft.  The resulting aircraft-like operation of the Space Planes will produce dramatically lower operating costs and increased operating tempo compared to current space launch vehicles.

The ability of Space Planes to operate from runways offers the potential to bypass the congestion of existing vertical launch sites and instead make use of thousands of airports in the U.S. and worldwide. Space Planes will be capable of responsive launch and launch-on-demand service and ultimately solve the 65+ year-old problem of vertical launch.

The key to unlocking the Space Plane’s new capabilities is our propulsion module, which includes an Air Turbo Rocket as a key component. The video below shows a hot fire test of ATRX’s existing ATR prototype.

ATRX looks forward to improving the space launch market, supporting U.S. national security objectives and helping to grow entirely new types of space-based businesses and applications.!