What will the Delta Clipper be used for?
There are quite a few uses for a single stage reusable launch platform. These uses range from launching tiny new satellites to ferrying cargo to the moon.
The ability to put smaller satellites into orbit, while doing it much more often than is possible now, will enable applications that can only be dreamed of now. Motorola’s Iridium satellite phone constellation would have been one such use for the Delta Clipper. The Iridium constellation consists of 66 satellites in Low Earth Orbit [6]. Had Motorola had the lower cost services of the Delta Clipper the launch savings would have been tremendous. Also beneficial would be the ability for many more universities to place tiny research satellites into orbit. The University of Texas at Austin Department of Aerospace Engineering’s Icesat project would be one such nano-satellite.
The International Space Station (ISS) is another application of cheap and quick access to space. With the Delta Clipper, NASA could ferry many more scientific experiments to the station. It would also allow fast recovery of crews in the event of an equipment failure as well as faster construction of the station.
Space Tourism is also an application of the Delta Clipper. Before non-astronauts are allowed to venture into space in large numbers launch vehicles must be made as safe as the average commercial airline. The cost of launching a tourist must also be lower than it is today in order to make it both viable for consumers as well as profitable for the company operating the tourist service. The Delta Clipper would fit this task well.
Global same-day package delivery will be a driving force behind the early adoption of the Delta Clipper. G. Harry Stein has shown in his book ‘Halfway to Anywhere’ the financial viability of such a service.
Finally, the Delta Clipper in a modified form could serve as a vehicle for both the exploration of the moon as well as the ferry of parts for the construction of a permanent moon base. The Delta Clipper’s ability to land vertically makes it ideal for use on planetary bodies without an atmosphere.
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