Rocketplane Kistler
Rocketplane Kistler is an American aerospace company headquartered in Oklahoma City, which worked on the introduction of reusable rockets to launch payloads into low earth orbit. The company was formed in 2006 out of the merger of Rocketplane Limited Incorporated and Kistler Aerospace and became known through participation in the advertised by NASA Commercial Orbital Transportation Services program. Currently, the company is declared bankrupt.
History
The company branch Kistler Aerospace was founded in 1993 by entrepreneurs Walter Kistler and Bob Citron as a private company. The business idea was to develop a cost-effective commercial launch vehicle for low earth orbit, which should be reusable to a large extent. However, it failed to win customers for the rocket type, so that the company due to the cost-intensive development always had financial problems. In February 2006, Kistler Aerospace was acquired by the competing company Rocketplane Limited Incorporated. At this time, the performance of the K -1 rocket was completed to about 75%. Both companies have been working under the common name Rocketplane Kistler on the completion and implementation of reusable launch vehicles. The merger was Rocketplane Kistler possible to submit the draft of the rocket Kistler K-1 to participate in the NASA COTS program.
NASA competition and COTS program
On 18 January 2006, the NASA ( into orbit commercial transport services) announced the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services of said program for the transport of equipment, goods and crews to the International Space Station (ISS). The aim was to recruit suitable private companies for the development and construction of launch vehicles. In August 2006, NASA announced that only the companies SpaceX and Rocketplane Kistler were selected for participation in the program of more than 20 applicants. Both companies should receive high financial support by NASA in accordance with the development of their spacecraft. Rocketplane Kistler were originally promised 207 million U.S. dollars, if the required demonstration flights of its draft would be successfully implemented in the years 2008 to 2010. In addition, the company promised the award of contracts to supply the ISS in the event of the successful development of an operational transport system. Work on the rocket K-1 were then the sole project of the company.
The K- 1 rocket
→ Main article: Kistler K-1
By introducing a largely reusable rocket to Rocketplane Kistler significantly more favorable offs and so a successful alternative to costly disposable rockets hoped. The main payload of under development since about 1990 rocket K-1 small satellite for low earth orbit were provided. For the COTS program, the draft K-1 has been revised and adapted to the requirements of NASA. There was a cargo module, which will transport around 2.7 tonnes of cargo to the ISS. For docking with the ISS capture of the rocket with the help of the station 's robotic arm and a docking on a Common Berthing Mechanism was provided on the American part of the station. This docking is carried out by the Japanese H-2 Transfer Vehicle.
In November 2006, Kistler announced that Alliant Techsystems the company ( ATK ) was selected as prime contractor for the construction of the K -1. When driving the missile modified engines were chosen by commercially offered Russian type Kuznetsov NK - 33 from the American company Aerojet. The launch of the rocket was initially planned from Woomera in Australia. Both stages of the two-stage rocket to return after the suspension of the payload in orbit to Earth and land with the help of parachutes and airbags. The K-1 would thus have been the first fully reusable launch vehicle in the world.
Financial problems
Prior to participating in the COTS program had repeatedly struggling with financial problems Rocketplane Kistler or the predecessor Kistler Aerospace. This meant that could not be observed already in September 2006, just a month after the start of participation in the COTS program, the first appointment with NASA. NASA granted the request for an extension of 30 days in order not to jeopardize the progress of the project. In February 2007, Rocketplane Kistler presented a revised COTS contract under which short-term in addition to the NASA funds 500 million U.S. dollars should be provided by private investors. However, it was not possible to collect sufficient funds for the development of the K -1, so that there were delays in the project again. On September 7, 2007, NASA announced that Rocketplane Kistler is excluded from the COTS program, if not the necessary appointments would be rescheduled within one last time period of 30 days. In October, NASA definite exclusion of Rocketplane Kistler from the COTS program announced. From the originally agreed funding in the amount of 207 million U.S. dollars to the termination of the contract, only 32.1 million U.S. dollars have been disbursed. Rocketplane Kistler was then forced to lay off staff and cancel orders at suppliers. In June 2010, Rocketplane eventually filed for bankruptcy.