Modification of a Commercial NLV Booster Concept for Use as a Low-Cost Upper Stage for the XS-1

The opportunity exists to significantly advance the introduction of a low-cost upper stage for DARPAs Experimental Spaceplane (XS-1) by leveraging Garvey Spacecraft Corporations (GSCs) on-going nanosat launch vehicle (NLV) development and flight test program along with focused composite tank and wireless data networking R&D being conducted by XS-1 contractor Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems (NGAS).GSC has made substantial progress towards the implementation of a series of two-stage NLVs that are optimized for delivering cubesat and nanosat-class payloads to a variety of low Earth orbits. The NLV uses the high-density-impulse propellant combination of densified propylene and LOX along with composite cryogenic propellant tanks to enable simple pressure fed propulsion system/engine cycle. This architecture allows for lowered mission costs through the absence of turbopumps which reduces hardware costs, improves reliability, and simplifies engine start-up.The NLV booster stage designs are readily scalable to the incremental series of XS-1 upper stage test and operational missions.Furthermore, GSCs extensive experience in flight testing prototype stages and demonstrating TRL=6 maturity for critical technologies that include composite cryogenic propellant tanks, advanced engines and alternative cryogenic hydrocarbon fuels is applicable to conducting an aggressive Phase II flight test program.