 SOAR spaceplane rendering with Airbus A300 | |
| Function | Autonomous suborbital launch and landing |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Swiss Space Systems |
| Size | |
| Stages | Air-launched, one as fully reusable spacecraft or two as partially reusable spacecraft |
| Boosters | |
| Engines | NK-39 |
SOAR (Sub-Orbital Re-Usable Aircraft) was a plannedpartially reusableair-launchedspaceplane launch system concept which would launch small satellites on asuborbital ororbital trajectory. The vehicle, derived from theHermes spacecraft developed by theEuropean Space Agency, was planned to be built, launched, and operated bySwiss Space Systems.[1][2] The spaceplane was planned to launch from anAirbus A300 aircraft named S3 Zero Gravity Airliner. Once at altitude, the spaceplane would have separated from the aircraft and ignited anNK-39 engine developed by theRussian Federal Space Agency.[3] After fuel depletion at about 80 kilometers altitude, the plane would release its payload before gliding back and landing onEarth.[4]
The launch vehicle was planned to also havelow Earth orbit capability when launched in conjunction with anexpendableupper stage. Swiss Space Systems contracted the Russian firmRKK Energia to develop the upper stage.[5] With an upper stage, the spacecraft was planned to be able to launch a 250-kilogram payload into orbit.[1]
Swiss Space Systems claimed that the spaceplane could cost about one fourth as much as current suborbital launch costs.[6] The spaceplane was targeted to have its first test launch by 2017. Following financial trouble, the company was declared bankrupt in a Swiss civil court, ending its operations.[7]
Swiss Space Systems announced in 2015 that the airplane was planned to begin test flights in 2016. By early 2016 the company planned to begin drop testing of the spaceplane, which would include dropping a scaled-downboilerplate spacecraft which wouldautonomously land on a runway.[8] In September 2014, test firings of the engine were expected to begin in late 2015.[9]
The company partnered withBauman Moscow State Technical University in 2013. According to Explore Deep Space, this partnership was planned to "enable the exchange of academicals between Russia and Switzerland".[10]
No missions of the spaceplane were completed.
In 2013, Swiss Space Systems declared their intention to eventually upgrade the spaceplane forhuman spaceflight. The company also announced a partnership withThales Alenia Space for the design and construction of a pressurized compartment for the spaceplane's occupants.[12] The company announced its intention to use a derivative of SOAR as a new high-speed passenger transport system instead of a space tourism vehicle. According to Pascal Jaussi, CEO of the corporation, "Far from wishing to launch into the space tourism market, we want rather to establish a new mode of air travel based on our satellite launch model that was planned to allow spaceports on different continents to be reached in an hour."[13]
The company created multiple subsidiaries to support a network of launch and landing sites, with locations in the United States,United Arab Emirates, andCroatia.[5]
A subsidiary of the company, S3 USA Operations Inc, was formed in early 2014. The company planned to use the retiredSpace Shuttle landing site atKennedy Space Center for the operation of SOAR.[14]
In 2015, Swiss Space Systems announced a partnership with the financial institutionD&B Group to create a joint subsidiary named S3 Middle East. This partnership, according to Satellite Today, was planned to allow the company to attempt SOAR launch certification in the United Arab Emirates.[15]In March 2016, Amin Forati opened a bank guarantee of US$30 million in favour of S3 through his company D&B Groups, but such a large sum failed to save S3 from bankruptcy.[citation needed] Forati in September fled Dubai and in November two criminal cases for fraud were opened in UAE against him.[citation needed]