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![]() Artist's rendition of the X-33 in orbit. | |
Function | Uncrewed re-usable spaceplane technology demonstrator |
---|---|
Manufacturer | Lockheed Martin |
Country of origin | United States |
Project cost | $922 million NASA + $357 million Lockheed Martin[1] |
Size | |
Height | 20 m (66 ft)[2] |
Mass | 129,000 kg (285,000 lb)[2] |
Stages | 1 |
Launch history | |
Status | Canceled |
Engine details | |
Powered by | 2 XRS-2200 linear aerospikes[1] |
Maximum thrust | 1,800 kN (410,000 lbf)[1] |
Propellant | LOX/LH2 |
The Lockheed Martin X-33 was a proposed uncrewed, sub-scale technology demonstrator suborbital spaceplane that was developed for a period in the 1990s. The X-33 was a technology demonstrator for the VentureStar orbital spaceplane, which was planned to be a next-generation, commercially operated reusable launch vehicle. The X-33 would flight-test a range of technologies that NASA believed it needed for single-stage-to-orbit reusable launch vehicles (SSTO RLVs), such as metallic thermal protection systems, composite cryogenic fuel tanks for liquid hydrogen, the aerospike engine, autonomous (uncrewed) flight control, rapid flight turn-around times through streamlined operations, and its lifting body aerodynamics.[3]
Failures of its 21-meter wingspan and multi-lobed, composite-material fuel tank during pressure testing ultimately led to the withdrawal of federal support for the program in early 2001. Lockheed Martin has conducted unrelated testing, and has had a single success after a string of failures as recently as 2009 using a 2-meter scale model.[4]