X-33 VentureStar

Assembled by Lockheed Martin, the X-33 was intended to be a 1/3 scale prototype of a fully-operational RLV (Reusable Launch Vehicle) called the VentureStar, designed to dramatically lower the costs of launching payloads in space. The VentureStar may now be nothing more than a memory, but it nearly became part of NASA, the commercial fleet and indeed even the US Air Force, had it of not been for some controversial key decisions during the construction of the technology demonstrator, the X-33. When cancelled, 40 percent of the X-33 construction was already done. Because of bad decisions, the X-33, instead becoming a potential leap in space vehicle technology, turned out to became a $1.5 billion waste to the tax payer.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Lockheed
• Martin
• X33
• X-33
• VentureStar
• NASA
• Shuttle
• Space
• US
• Air
• Force
• prototype
• RLV
• technology
• demonstrator
• billion

[Membrane556]

The X33 had two major issues one the composite lH2 tank tended to fail and the a

aerospike engine was heavier then planned.

Neither of these were show stoppers as another company made a successful composite cryogenic tank and it was found metal tanks would have been lighter.

It really is a shame they did not at least continue it as an X plane.

The present so called shuttle replacement is a sham.

[Membrane556]

Politics may have been a bigger factor in the X33's demise then engineering.

The Venture star was Al Gore's and Goldin's idea.

As you know the guy who became president after Clinton wanted nothing more then to destroy everything from the Clinton Administration.

Another fact Ares is headed by the same guy who mismanaged the X33 project.

[sakoshooter48]

@newmanfrigan Fuck you cunt! Call 'em as I see 'em, you sir, are a full fledged cunt! Go kill yourself! Obama singlehandedly killed the Ares and Orion spacecraft. We now thumb rides with the Russians. The X-33 was a technological breakthrough but the lithium aluminum fuel tanks never could withstand the temperature differentials. The program was scrapped due to cost overrruns and technological issues. Who the fuck called on you anyway you goddamn smacktard!

[newmanfrigan]

@EUROSUN1 Not true. Should be obvious that most of this stuff is secret, and more secret then ever.

[newmanfrigan]

@sakoshooter48 You're full of shit. Fuck off. This is a Bush Cancelled plane right here, and nothing set aerospace back further then fighting multi-trillion dollar COIN wars that always will sink the air and naval budgets for decades. You are better off as Glenn Becks fluffer than you are as a tech/military analyst. Continue to smoke his cock, bitch.

[realsupercopter]

@AmyFace77 : images certainly comes from Lockheed Martin but I think the video is NASA material so I guess it's public domain.

[sakoshooter48]

@highlander2107 Ya, thanks to the Obama plan! Are you fucking crazy or just another one of those besotted liberal yutzes who has to take direction from everyone else. Do you realize what that fucking retard Obama has done to the infrastructure of the aerospace industry of the United States? In one fell swoop of his ignorant pen he has destroyed what has always been the backbone of American technology. I hope you and your ilk end up in a soup line, you deserve each other!

[highlander2107]

I'm happy NASA isn't going to build rockets anymore, it's terrible at it.

We'll be in a tough spot for the next 6-7 years, but 10 years from now private industry will be exploding with American companies at the forefront thanks to the new Obama plan.

Somebody had to do it, it's about time.

[realsupercopter]

Too bad they have cancelled this project after such progresses...