Skylon development given go-ahead by UK Space Agency
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A technical assessment has concluded that there are no impediments to the further development of the Skylon spacecraft being developed by Reaction Engines.
The UK Space Agency’s report on the Skylon technical assessment, for which the European Space Agency (ESA) was commissioned, also agreed with the objectives of the proposed next stage of the development programme.
Reaction Engines, based at Culham Science Centre in Oxfordshire, will now conduct a demonstration of the engine’s key pre-cooler technology later in the summer.
Skylon is an unpiloted, reusable single-stage-to-orbit spacecraft that is capable of delivering payloads of up to 15 tonnes into Low Earth Orbit at a fraction of the cost of traditional expendable launch vehicles, such as rockets.
Skylon’s Sabre engines use liquid hydrogen combined with oxygen from the air at altitudes up to 26km and speeds of up to Mach 5 before switching over to onboard liquid oxygen for the final stage of ascent.
The UK Space Agency’s commissioned report concluded that ‘no impediments or critical items have been identified for either the Skylon vehicle or the Sabre engine that are a block to further developments’.
Dr David Parker, director of technology, science and exploration at the UK Space Agency, said: ‘Both Sabre and Skylon are exciting new technologies that could transform access to space.
‘ESA’s positive assessment should give everyone increased confidence that Reaction Engines is on the right track. We are looking forward to the upcoming technology tests with interest.’
Australian scramjet
In separate news, scientists and engineers at The University of Queensland (UQ) are building a 1.8m-long hypersonic scramjet that is expected to fly at 8,600km/h in South Australia next year.
According to UQ, the research is the first phase of Scramspace, which aims to change the way satellites are launched into space.
Scramspace I is on track for launch at Woomera in South Australia late next year, having passed a major design review.
According to technical lead Dr Sandy Tirtey, the scramjet has passed its preliminary concept-development phase.
‘We have another design review set for July and are aiming at the Critical Design Review in October this year,’ said Dr Tirtey. ‘After that, we start the process of manufacture, assembly and extensive pre-flight tests.’
A team of rocket engineers could propel the UK to the forefront of commercial space flight. Click here to read more.
Readers' comments (4)
JG | 27 May 2011 3:28 pm
About time too. Present methods go right back to the German WW2 “V2”, adding staged rockets, with no escape method either, as with the tragic/inexcusable Challenger explosion in 1986.
The abandonment of the US Shuttle with no replacement is a backward, and risky, step.
Moreover, it is also time to limit drastically the amount of material which is added to space junk, or casually dumped back to earth/sea.
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Nick Woodward | 28 May 2011 8:09 pm
I agree, even the shuttle is yesterdays technology, the Skylon project is the way forward, no need for overblown fireworks, if this country does not do it some other one will.
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Matt | 17 Jun 2011 12:40 pm
If or rather when the engines are successfully tested the British government needs to fully fund this programme.
This will require a leader who sees beyond the short term future and costs, but one who has a vision for Britain’s future success. Unfortunately I don’t think we have such a leader in David Cameron, however maybe his own vanity will inspire him to create a longer lasting legacy other than just a cut and runner like Thatcher before him.
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Paul Griffiths | 26 Jul 2011 1:05 pm
With the shuttle now retired and the U.S. ramping the space race down a bit - the U.K. now has an unprecedented opportunity, not only to take the world technology lead with Skylon, but to actually put it into practice.
Although much funding may, ( or may not ), come from overseas, as well as some technical expertise and support. I hope that Skylon will remain quintessentially a British domain, helping to aid U.K. businesses and of course, our economy.
U.K. engineering put the U.K. on the world leading technology front for the last couple of centuries. While our inginuity has not abated, our lack of funding, publicity and public interest appears to have stifled us in the last half of the 20th century.
I just hope that like many of our industries, we do not let this one go !
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