LEOSTAR: Low Earth Orbit Space Transportation Affordable and Responsive

Based on lessons learned from the RASCAL program, the Space Launch Corporation proposes the LEOSTAR launch system. In the spirit of the RASCAL program LEOSTAR will be designed to meet the needs of both the US warfighter and the growing commercial market for small satellite launch. The system will consist of a reusable aircraft first stage and a multi-stage expendable rocket vehicle. The reusable first stage consists of a purpose built air vehicle that is powered by two off the shelf military jet engines augmented by an existing liquid rocket engine for exo-atmospheric, high velocity flight.

The air vehicle provides a staging point for the expendable rocket at an altitude in excess of 100,000 feet. The expendable vehicle is a three-stage rocket vehicle capable of placing a minimum of 230 kg to 500 km sun-synchronous orbit. The expendable rocket vehicle is designed for minimum recurring cost and is guided by a smart upper stage, called the Head End Module (HEM). The HEM is a company-patented technology that can be configured to serve as an upper stage or as a payload bus.