Swiss Space Systems Unveils Low Cost Satellite Launch Capability

Flight Plan ©S3 Swiss Space Systems (S3) unveiled its space shuttle project for placing small satellites (up to 250 kg) into low Eart...

Flight Plan ©S3

Swiss Space Systems (S3) unveiled its space shuttle project for placing small satellites (up to 250 kg) into low Earth orbit(altitudes of 600-800 km) at a cost well below current market rates. The company aims to have, the first test launch by 2017.
S3 aims to develop, manufacture, certify and operate unmanned suborbital spaceplanes for small satellite deployment.

Spaceplane onboard Airbus A330 ©S3

The Spaceplane will be launched from a Zero-G certified Airbus A300 jetliner. After detaching from the aircraft at desired speed and height, the onboard engines would be fired to reach the specified orbit, where the satellite would be deployed.
The spaceplane will use standard fuels, with no fuel required during landing after a suborbital flight.

Spaceplane S3

The main components used during the flight are re-usable and S3 would develop ground operations known from aviation such as inspection, repair and equipment replacement activities.
The S3 project is based on the VEHRA concept (Véhicule Hypersonique Réutilisable Aéroporté - airborne reusable hypersonic vehicle) developed by Dassault Aviation and equipped with a rocket engine and equipment from modern aircraft such as the Rafale or the Falcon business jets.