DARPA proposes to use jet aircraft for low-cost launch of mini-satellites into orbit

DARPA engineers suggest using jet aircraft to launch light satellites into low earth orbit. The plane will need to install a two-stage launch vehicle, which, after it has been set by a certain height, will be dropped by parachute. Due to the work of the first-stage engines, the capsule with the satellite will leave the atmosphere, after which the second stage will turn on, which will bring the satellite to the required orbit. According to engineers, such a launch would cost about $ 1 million - about one third of the cost of launching a satellite using a ground-based rocket.

The project is called Airborne Launch Assist Space Access (ALASA). Bradford Tusley (one of the DARPA executives) reported to the US Federal Aviation Administration on the successful completion of the first phase of the program, including the design of satellites for such a launch, and announced the start of the second phase. Within its framework, a contract was signed with Boeing, from the aircraft of which test launches will be made.

One of the major advantages of ALASA Tusley is its cost. The launch of satellites for the US Department of Defense is a long process with considerable administrative obstacles due to the high cost of a ground launch. In the case of adopting the ALASA program, the launch of a satellite can be performed within 24 hours from the moment it arrives at the air base of jet aircraft, since for their take-off the atmospheric conditions are not decisive, besides, the aircraft modification is not required to launch the satellite. The first real ALASA test will be held at the end of 2015.