Roton ATV Third Test Fly-Over Flight

Rotary Rocket's single stage to orbit (SSTO) spacecraft Roton ATV (Atmospheric Test Vehicle) that made 3 successful piloted test flights, demonstrating the feasibility of the rotor-assisted landing.

Planned by Rotary Rocket Inc, the Roton was to use a centrifugally-pumped rocket motor for launch, and a helicopter rotor for descent. By their own estimate Rotary Rocket needed over $100 million for development, but managed to raise only $30 million, and so ceased trading in the year 2000.

In April 2002, XCOR acquired selected intellectual property assets of the former Rotary Rocket Company. These assets included a 22,250-newton LOX/kerosene engine developed and tested by the company as well as hydrogen peroxide engine technology.

Credits: Rotary Rocket Company, Inc.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Roton
• SSTO
• Atmospheric Test Vehicle
• ATV
• Mojave
• spaceport
• Rotary Rocket
• Space
• NewSpace
• alt.space
• aerospace
• spacecraft
• space launch
• test flight
• helicopter

[DEP717]

That was one heck of a neat concept and she may have come along about 10 years too soon. Gutsy team. Tom Clancy was one of the early backers as I recall.