Xerus
single-stage suborbital vehicle

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XCOR is currently in development of a suborbital vehicle code-named 'Xerus'.   A cluster of main engines will propel the vehicle from the runway to about 65 km altitude, after which it coasts to 100 km during a typical sounding rocket flight. Initial flight testing will retain a propellant reserve so that the pilot can restart the engines to reach the airport, or perform a go-around if he chooses. XCOR plans a flight test program of at least 20 flights, each incrementally expanding the operational envelope.

The Xerus takes off and lands from a conventional runway, like an airplane.  There is no carrier aircraft.

The maximum speed is about Mach 4, which is achieved high in the atmosphere where aerodynamic heating is much less of a problem than it is for airplanes that cruise supersonically lower in the atmosphere. Thermal protection is correspondingly easier.

The wings provide for runway takeoffs and landings as well as maneuvering in the atmosphere. Small rockets based on our reaction thruster engine class are used for attitude control outside the atmosphere.

Our suborbital design is targeted toward three markets:

1. Suborbital Payloads
Suborbital payloads are primarily science experiments that are currently launched by sounding rockets. Examples are materials processing experiments, and zero-g checkout of small Space Shuttle payloads. Delivering these payloads with a reusable vehicle will significantly cut costs and lead time. Because of the low flight price, we can provide experiments, which now fly as secondary payloads, with a dedicated flight on demand.  Our EZ-Rocket demonstrator shows extremely low cost per flight using the same engine technology that will be featured on Xerus.

2. Passengers
No middle ground exists for space tourism. Currently a ride to orbit costs about $20 million dollars. The next best thing is a trip in a Russian jet fighter aircraft, which is selling for about $15,000. Our suborbital vehicle will provide a high-energy ride that will take a passenger nearly to orbital altitudes, though not orbital velocity. This is an "Alan Shepard ride" a quick and exhilarating boost up to about 100 km altitude with about three minutes of zero gravity while the delighted tourist gets a great view of the Earth surrounded by a black sky filled with stars.

The Xerus takes off and lands from a conventional runway, like an airplane.  There is no carrier aircraft.

3. Microsatellite Delivery
In this configuration, our suborbital vehicle will function as a reusable first stage that carries an expendable upper stage. Our vehicle releases the upper stage, which has its own rocket engine and is capable of putting a microsatellite into low Earth orbit. This vehicle will service the current small payload market as well as customers who today are not in the satellite launch market for reasons of expense and lead time.

Currently existing satellite launch vehicles do not allow for quick turnaround experiments. Not even the military has rapid and responsive access to space. Microsatellites almost always are launched as secondary payloads, which are tied to the schedule of the larger primary payload. Although this is currently a small market, we think it has a large potential for development. Electronics miniaturization and diminishing size and power requirements means that the next generation of certain kinds of satellites need not be as large as current models.

The same vehicle can serve all three of these markets. Changing from tourist carrier to sounding rocket involves removal of the rear ejection seat and installation of experiment package attach points and power connector. The upper stage for launching satellites is carried externally.

For more information about the Xerus and our suborbital program, please visit the Xerus FAQ page.