The idea of a rocket spaceplane capable of ascending into orbit and returning to Earth like an airplane appeared several decades ago. Over time, its development led to the so-called. orbital aircraft, including those that have found practical application. However, until a certain time, work in this area could not give the desired results. The leading countries of the world have developed several projects of spaceplanes, but they have not advanced further than testing experimental equipment.
It should be noted that all the early developments of the USSR and the USA in the field of spaceplanes, although they did not lead to the emergence and operation of fundamentally new technology, were still not useless. With their help, specialists from a large number of scientific and design institutions were able to gain the necessary experience, conduct a number of studies and experiments, and determine further ways of developing space technology. On the basis of new technologies and developments, real samples of spaceplanes with the desired characteristics were soon created.
X-20 DynaSoar
The first full-fledged spaceplane project that had a chance to reach test flights is the American X-20 DynaSoar. Work on this program started in the fall of 1957 - just a few days after the launch of the first artificial Earth satellite, made in the USSR. The military and political leadership, as well as the heads of the US aerospace industry, came to the conclusion that it was necessary to create their own space systems, including those suitable for military use.
The X-20 DynoSoar spaceplane is entering the atmosphere. NASA drawing
In mid-December, a conference was held at NACA on the ways of developing rocket and space technology. It discussed three main types of spacecraft for transporting people or cargo: a capsule with launching into orbit using a launch vehicle and returning along a ballistic trajectory; an orbiter of the Lifting Body type, capable of performing some maneuvers; as well as a full-fledged orbital spaceplane. Based on the results of the discussions, it was decided to develop the concepts of a "ballistic" capsule and spaceplane.
At the end of the year, the US Air Force Research and Development Command launched a new program with the code DynaSoar (short for Dynamic Soaring - "dynamic planning"), in which it was planned to develop the spaceplane. The formation of requirements for the future spacecraft began, as well as the collection of applications for participation in the program. The BBC received more than a hundred proposals in total, but only 10 companies were involved in the program, some of which decided to work together.
In the early spring of 1958, the Air Force got acquainted with a dozen preliminary projects of the DynaSoar system. The development companies took different approaches and implemented different concepts. At the same time, a significant part of the projects had a certain similarity. They provided for the construction of a hypersonic rocket plane, which was to be connected to a booster rocket. The differences were in the design of the aircraft, the composition of the onboard systems and the architecture of the launch vehicle. The Air Force considered the projects from the Boeing-Vought and Bell-Martin groups of companies to be the best options. It was they who were developed.
Separation of the launch vehicle and the spaceplane. NASA drawing
In parallel with the search for the winners of the competition, the military negotiated with NACA: this organization was supposed to provide scientific and practical events. The corresponding agreement appeared in the late autumn of 1958. Thereafter, the R&D Agency and aviation companies worked together under the leadership of the Air Force. By this time, it was decided to carry out the program in several stages - from research to construction and testing of the combat version of the spaceplane.
During 1959, the two groups of companies carried out different research and development activities. During this period, the customer changed the requirements for the spaceplane several times. In early November, the Air Force selected the winner of the competition. The best version of the project was proposed by Boeing and Vought. It is curious that by this time the latter had sharply reduced its participation in the project - she was responsible only for a few units of the future apparatus. Martin was also involved in the project, which was to develop the required launch vehicle.
The development of the future prototype spaceplane started at the very end of 1959. This stage of work was designated as Phase Alpha. Working out the appearance of the spaceplane with the working designation X-20 led to specific results. Thus, the design of the product was constantly changing and moved further and further from the basic version. In parallel, the development of a construction and test schedule was carried out. From a certain time, the customer and the developer planned to conduct two dozen test flights - and this is only within the framework of the first phases.
Model of the X-20 apparatus. Boeing Photos
By the middle of 1961, the participants in the program had determined the final appearance of the future rocket and space complex. In addition to the hypersonic spacecraft itself, a specially modified Titan IIIC launch vehicle was included in it. Instead of a stage with a payload, it was proposed to install a DynaSoar product on it. The three-stage rocket could also be equipped with a special fourth stage. This unit was supposed to remain on the spaceplane, providing a solution to some problems.
The X-20 project involved the construction of a medium-sized spaceplane with a characteristic appearance. The low-lying delta wing was considered optimal, above which there was a fuselage with a pointed nose cone and a pair of side keels. The airframe was proposed to be made of heat-resistant steel alloys and covered with special ceramic panels. They also used the principle of cooling the cladding by means of internal radiators with liquid. Inside the fuselage, a single-seat cockpit was placed, as well as a liquid propellant rocket engine and other necessary devices. The length of the vehicle did not exceed 11 m, the wingspan was less than 6.5 m. Its own weight was 5.16 tons.
According to the proposals of that time, guided missiles could be placed in the X-20 cargo bay to attack targets in orbit or on Earth. In addition, the use of free-fall bombs was not excluded. As far as is known, the development of specialized space-to-space and space-to-ground rockets has not yet gone beyond the preliminary research stage.
Test pilot in the cockpit of the ground simulator. Boeing Photos
In September 1961, Boeing presented the customer with a full-size model of the spaceplane. His approval would open the way for the project to build a full-fledged prototype. Preparations for testing were also underway: NASA and the Air Force began recruiting pilots to participate in future tests. Six pilots were selected for a special group. They had to perform at least nine orbital flights.
However, these plans were not fulfilled. Already in October 1961, in connection with the emergence of competing space programs, a plan was proposed to reduce the costs of the X-20 DynaSoar project. This document provided for a decrease in the number of test flights and a simplification of flight programs. Due to this, the cost of the tests was planned to be reduced to $ 920 million and completed by 1967. It is curious that one of the parallel space programs during the same period was subjected to such harsh criticism that it was simply closed.
However, against this background, there were no reasons for joy. Already in February of next year, the DynaSoar program was transferred to the research category, which was caused by problems in the development of a spaceplane and a rocket for it. In addition, there were difficulties in obtaining funding and organizing work. In October, a new version of the program schedule appeared, again providing for a reduction in spending.
DynaSoar layout and its creators from Boeing. Boeing Photos
In 1963, the DynaSoar project faced a new competitor in the form of the Gemini spacecraft. The Pentagon compared the two developments and tried to establish which of them is of greater interest from a military point of view. This was followed by disputes in the military department, against the background of which there were rumors about the termination of work on the X-20. However, in the spring, Boeing received a new contract to continue development work. In parallel, discussions continued on future funding and testing.
On December 20, 1963, Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara ordered the termination of the DynaSoar program in favor of the ASSET project, with a corresponding redirection of funding. According to reports, at that time, $ 410 million was spent on the DynaSoar program. The first flight required comparable sums and several more years of work. However, the project was not allocated the necessary time and money.
Spiral
While American science was trying to create a spaceplane, Soviet specialists continued to develop capsule ships with ballistic descent and were very successful in this matter. However, just a few years later, work began in our country to create an orbital aircraft. The domestic project of the aerospace system was named "Spiral".
Model of the Spiral aerospace system in take-off configuration. Photo Epizodsspace.airbase.ru
It is known that one of the reasons for the appearance of the Spiral theme was information about the American plans to create spaceplanes, namely the DynaSoar project. At the same time, it can be noted that the further development of cosmonautics could be carried out in different ways, including through the creation of spaceplanes. Thus, "Spiral", although it was created with an eye on foreign samples, can be considered a completely own project based on original ideas.
The finished concept of the system, combining the ideas of a rocket plane and a spacecraft, was proposed in 1964 by the 30th Central Research Institute of the Air Force. This proposal interested the leaders of the aviation industry, and in 1965 a corresponding order appeared. In accordance with it, the A. I. Mikoyan was to develop a project for a promising aerospace system with the code "Spiral". Work on this topic began in 1966, led by the designer G. E. Lozino-Lozinsky.
The 30th Central Research Institute completed a significant part of the work, which greatly simplified the task of the Mikoyan Design Bureau. The Institute's specialists have formed the architecture of the future complex, as well as determined its characteristics and capabilities. Thanks to this, aircraft designers only had to carry out development work. This approach gave certain advantages. So, according to the plans of the mid-sixties, the first flight of the "Spiral" could take place at the beginning of the next decade.
Spiral flight profile. Figure Epizodsspace.airbase.ru
The Spiral system was based on a special 50-50 booster aircraft of a characteristic appearance. It was supposed to have a swept wing and a set of high-thrust jet engines. On the upper part of the machine, a platform was provided for the installation of an orbital spaceplane with an upper stage. According to the basic concept, the booster was supposed to rise to an altitude of 30 km and develop a speed of about M = 6. The total length of such a machine reached 38 m with a wingspan of 16, 5 m. The takeoff weight of the entire aerospace system is 52 tons.
The payload of the "50-50" accelerator was the so-called. orbital aircraft with a rocket booster. The spaceplane was proposed to be built according to the scheme with a supporting fuselage, in which the lower part of the machine was the wing plane. The fuselage itself had a triangular shape with a variable cross-section. On the sides of the car there were a pair of planes collapsed to the sides. A keel was provided on the fuselage. The glider was proposed to be made of heat-resistant steels; the cladding received a special ceramic coating. According to calculations, at certain stages of the flight, the nose of the fuselage had to warm up to 1600 ° C, which required appropriate protection.
Orbital aircraft "50" was proposed to be equipped with sustainer and steering engines. With a mass of 8 tons, it could carry a payload of at least 500 kg. The possibility of creating an orbital interceptor and reconnaissance was considered. In addition, there was a spaceplane bomber project that could carry 2 tons of cargo. Due to the booster airplane and the rocket booster block, the Spirali airplane could ascend into orbits with an altitude of at least 150 km.
Orbital plane "50". Figure Buran.ru
By the end of the decade, the Mikoyan Design Bureau completed the bulk of the theoretical work and prepared the equipment for the first practical tests. In July 1969, the experimental apparatus BOR-1 ("Unmanned orbital rocket plane, the first") of a simplified design was launched. A textolite glider on a scale of 1: 3 with the help of a modified R-12 rocket was brought to a suborbital trajectory. The product burned out in the atmosphere, but allowed some data to be collected. In December of the same year, the BOR-2 apparatus with a different design and configuration was launched. In flight, the control systems failed, and the prototype burned out.
From July 1970 to February 1972, three more launches of BOR-2 prototypes were performed. Two ended in success, one in failure. In 1973 and 1974, two tests of improved BOR-3 products were carried out. In both cases, accidents occurred for different reasons. Despite a number of accidents and shortcomings, tests of the BOR family products provided a large amount of information.
Already after the launch of the BOR project, an order was issued to terminate work on the "Spiral" theme. The country's leadership decided to throw the forces of industry in other directions. However, already in 1974 the program was resumed, and soon new results were obtained. The latest achievement in the creation of the aerospace system "Spiral" can be considered an analog aircraft "105.11", as well as orbiters BOR-4 and BOR-5.
One of the prototypes of BOR-3. Photo Buran.ru
"105.11" / MiG-105 was an approximate copy of the "Spiral" orbital aircraft, but could only fly in the atmosphere and at subsonic speed. This machine was intended for practicing the descent and horizontal landing of spaceplanes. On October 11, 1976, the first flight "105.11" took place. The car was brought to a given altitude and course using a Tu-95 carrier aircraft. Further, the mock-up was dropped, and, having descended, it landed. Seven flights took place, after which the tests were stopped due to the breakdown of the prototype.
In the mid-seventies, a technical task appeared for the creation of a promising reusable space system - the future Energia-Buran complex. For several years, supporters of Spiral and Buran argued with each other and tried to defend their side, but soon the issue was resolved at the highest level. It was decided to curtail the Spiral theme in favor of the less daring but promising Buran. At the same time, a number of developments of the Mikoyan Design Bureau and related enterprises were planned to be used in a new project.
In the early eighties, in the interests of the Buran project, several launches of BOR orbiters with numbers from "4" to "6" took place. Their task was to test the thermal protection for the future space plane and solve other problems. All these experiments contributed to further work on the "Buran". Importantly, several prototypes used in the two aerospace systems programs have been preserved and are now in museums.
Successes and failures
Since the late fifties, the two leading countries of the world, developing their space programs, have developed several daring projects of space aircraft. However, for a number of reasons of one kind or another, these projects have not been able to go too far. At best, it was only about testing analogue devices.
Experienced MiG-105 at the Air Force Museum. Photo Wikimedia Commons
The X-20 DynaSoar project was closed due to numerous technical, organizational and other problems, which stemmed from the extreme complexity of the technical task. Designers and scientists managed to solve a number of important issues, but these solutions were not tested in practice using a full-fledged experimental spaceplane. However, many ideas and technologies created for the first American spaceplane were later used in new projects. The main result of all this was the Space Transportation System and its main element, the reusable Space Shuttle.
The history of the Soviet project "Spiral" and its completion were different. It appeared as a kind of response to foreign development, but at the same time it developed differently. In addition, it turned out to be more successful: the A. I. Mikoyan conducted the necessary tests, including with suborbital flights. The main reason for the rejection of the "Spiral" was the emergence of alternative proposals and projects. At the same time, the developments under the program immediately found a place in promising projects, as well as some experimental products. In fact, one project immediately "merged" into another and ensured its development.
It is well known that bold projects that give a start to new directions may not always give the desired results. Nevertheless, with their help, specialists collect the necessary data and gain valuable experience, which can then be used when creating new projects. This is what becomes the main result of programs that are not very successful at first glance. However, in the case of DynaSoar and Spiral, the situation looks more complicated. Only one version of the spaceplane, created using their experience, reached full operation, and even that one has already gone to rest.
