Progress Torwards the Development of a Dedicated Launch System for Nanosat Payloads

Interest continues to grow for responsive launch services that can deliver on the order of several hundred kilograms to low Earth orbit, as typified by DARPA's FALCON and RASCAL programs. The projected demand for such small launch vehicles appears to derive primarily from government needs, particularly military operations. However, there appears to be yet another market niche for academic and technology development-type payloads on the order of tens of kilograms in size (unofficially referred to as "nanosats") for which an even smaller launch system might be more appropriate. Consequently, a joint industry-academic partnership, known collectively as the California Launch Vehicle Education Initiative, has begun the study and initial development of a Nanosat Launch Vehicle (NLV) that could place on the order of 10 kg into a 250 km polar orbit. The two- stage vehicle design incorporates several promising technologies, including an alternative hydrocarbon fuel (densified propylene), composite cryogenic propellant tanks and high- temperature ceramics for the upper stage engine thrust chamber. A distinguishing program characteristic is that active flight testing is already underway, the results of which are helping to both refine and validate the NLV concept.