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Masten Space Systems, Inc.
Type	Private
Founded	2004
Headquarters	Mojave, California, USA
Key people	David Masten, CEO Michael Mealling, VP Business Development and CFO Jonathan Goff, Engineer Ian Moore, Engineer Pierce Nichols, Engineer
Industry	Aerospace and defense
Products	Suborbital spacecraft Space systems Throttleable Rocket Engines Rocket Propulsion Hardware
Employees	5 (12/1/05)
Slogan	"Just gas 'em up and go!"
Website	masten-space.com

Masten Space Systems is an aerospace startup company in Mojave, California (formerly Santa Clara, California) that is developing a line of Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) spacecraft that will eventually include manned orbital flight.

Contents 1 Overview 2 The XA Line of VTVL Suborbital Vehicles 2.1 XA 0.1 2.2 XA-0.2 2.3 XA-0.3 2.4 Further XA-0.x Vehicles 2.5 XA 1.0 2.5.1 Soda Sats 2.6 Further XA-x.0 Vehicles 3 See also 4 External links

Masten Space Systems is a Mojave, California based rocket company that is currently developing a line of reusable VTOL spacecraft, and related rocket propulsion hardware. They have announced their intention to compete against Armadillo Aerospace in the Lunar Lander Analog Challenge in October 2007.

The XA (eXtreme Altitude) line of suborbital Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) vehicles is a family of incrementally developed vehicles starting with technology demonstrators, and leading to commercially operated manned and unmanned suborbital launch vehicles. The XA series of suborbital vehicles will also help lay the groundwork and prove out some of the technologies necessary for future TSTO orbital launch vehicles, lunar landers, and other spacecraft.

The XA-0.x vehicles are technology demonstrators that prove out new components, technologies or techniques for the operational vehicles in the XA series, such as XA-1.0, XA-1.5, and XA-2.0.

The first vehicle in their line of Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) spacecraft is the XA-0.1. The purpose of XA-0.1 is to serve as a technology demonstrator, testing out engines, controls, and other systems for future vehicles. XA-0.1 uses four Liquid Oxygen/Isopropyl Alcohol rocket engines, each of which produce up to 500lb of thrust at full throttle. The engines are currently rated for throttling over a 3:1 ratio, and are mounted on a 1-axis hinge for Thrust Vector Control. The vehicle uses a Pressure-Fed system for delivering high pressure propellants to the engines, and is capable of flying for as much as 60 seconds in the current configuration. The initial flight of the XA-0.1 vehicle is planned for November 2006.

The next experimental vehicle after XA-0.1 will be used to develop flight experience with a vehicle that has a much higher mass ratio. It will use the exact same engines, computers, landing gear, valves, and regulators as XA-0.1, but will include an upgraded Attitude Control System, larger high pressure propellant tanks, lighter weight Carbon Fiber Reinforced pressurant gas tanks, and a much lighter sheet metal frame. The estimated flight time for this vehicle is currently around 160s.

Construction on this vehicle, also known as MSS Ascension will begin as soon as XA-0.1 has begun its flight test regime. Projected first flight for XA-0.2 is sometime in Q1 of 2007. This vehicle will likely be the MSS entry for Level One of the Lunar Lander Analog Challenge.

The third planned development vehicle, XA-0.3 (aka MSS Endurance) will be a significant upgrade from XA-0.1 and XA-0.2. This vehicle will be the first pump-fed vehicle fielded by Masten Space Systems. It will feature large, low-pressure tanks, a set of pistonless pumps from Flometrics, eight of the next generation of throttleable and hinged vernier engines, an aeroshell, larger landing gear, further improved Attitude Control Systems, and an advanced pressurization system. Estimated maximum flight time for this vehicle is over 240 seconds.

If ready in time, this vehicle will serve as the MSS entry for Level Two of the Lunar Lander Analog Challenge. In addition to low-altitude hover tests, XA-0.3 will be used to demonstrate high altitude operations, engine-out capabilities, and to test various abort modes.

After XA-0.3, additional vehicles will be used to test out retractable landing gear, RCS systems, the flight aeroshell, redundant propellant feed systems, and all the other subsystems required to lead up to XA-1.0, and future operational vehicles.

The first commercial vehicle that Masten Space Systems is working toward will be called XA-1.0. It will use a pump-fed, eight engine architecture. XA-1.0 is designed to be able to take unmanned payloads of up to 100kg to a 100km Apogee. These unmanned scientific, commercial, or educational payloads will be exposed to 2-4 minutes of microgravity, as well as the vacuum of space, and given a view of the earth or the sky depending on their requirements.

XA-1.0 is designed to be operated by a minimal staff out of unprepared facilities. It is designed with a high flight-rate, and low turn-around time in mind, with the goal of being able to fly multiple times per day out of a single launch site.

One of the most innovative payloads that will be flown on XA-1.0 is the SodaSat, a 350g payload designed to fit into the space of a standard soda can. These low-cost experiments are intended for the K-12 educational market, as well as for ameteur scientists, and hobbyists.

Based on operational experience with XA-1.0, and further XA-0.x development work, the next vehicle will be an upgrade to XA-1.0 called XA-1.5. XA-1.5 will include a higher performance main engine, larger tanks, and a larger airframe than XA-1.0. XA-1.5 will be capable of flying to much higher altitudes (potentially as high as 200-400km), yielding a longer duration microgravity environment and much improved earth-observation capabilities. XA-1.5 will also have optional features to improve the microgravity quality of the vehicle, or to provide for finer pointing capabilities for astronomical observation payloads.

After XA-1.5, the XA-2.0 space tourism vehicle is the next planned development. This vehicle will be capable of carrying 2-5 passengers to altitudes in excess of 200km.

• List of private spaceflight companies - A compiled list of private spaceflight companies
• Space Fellowship - Hosts the official Masten Space Systems Forum

• Masten Space Systems - Company homepage
• Selenian Boondocks - Blog by Masten Space engineer Jonathan Goff on space development topics
• Official Masten Space Systems Forum