Generation Orbit X-60
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
|name = X-60 |image = |caption = Artist depiction of the X-60A in flight }}{{Infobox aircraft type |type = Experimental aircraft |national origin = United States |manufacturer = Generation Orbit |first flight = |retired = |status = |primary user = Air Force Research Laboratory |more users = |produced = |number built = |program cost = |unit cost = |developed from = |developed into = }} |
The Generation Orbit X-60 (GOLauncher 1 or GO1) was an air-launched single stage suborbital rocket vehicle produced by Generation Orbit.
Design and development
File:X-60A Hot-fire test.jpg, January 14, 2020.]]
The first two segments of the GOLauncher 1 Inert Test Article (GO1-ITA) underwent a series of structural ground tests at Mercer University's Engineering Research Center (MERC) in December 2013.{{cite news | work=Mercer Engineering Research Center | title=Structural Test Success With Generation Orbit | url=http://www.merc-mercer.org/news/structural-test-success-merc/ | date=2014-02-14}}
In July 2014, GO was awarded a Phase I Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) contract from the Air Force Research Laboratory, Aerospace Systems Directorate (AFRL/RQ) for development of GOLauncher 1. The nine-month effort, worth $150,000, focused on requirements definition, configuration trade studies, and trajectory design.{{cite news | work=SBIR/STRR | title=Air Launch Testbed for Endoatmospheric Hypersonic Trajectories | url=http://www.sbir.gov/sbirsearch/detail/663142}}{{cite news |work=Generation Orbit Press Release |title=Generation Orbit Awarded Phase I SBIR with AFRL for GOLauncher 1 Hypersonic Testbed |url=http://www.generationorbit.com/blog/generation-orbit-awarded-phase-i-sbir-grant-with-afrl-for-golauncher-1-hypersonic-testbed/ |date=2014-07-09 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141005140619/http://www.generationorbit.com/blog/generation-orbit-awarded-phase-i-sbir-grant-with-afrl-for-golauncher-1-hypersonic-testbed/ |archivedate=2014-10-05 }}{{cite news | work=Parabolic Arc | title=Generation Orbit Awarded SBIR Grant for GOLauncher 1 Hypersonic Testbed | url=http://www.parabolicarc.com/2014/07/09/generation-orbit-awarded-sbir-grant-golauncher-1-hypersonic-testbed/ | date=2014-07-09}}{{cite news | work=SpaceRef Business | title=Generation Orbit Awarded Phase I SBIR Grant | url=http://spaceref.biz/business-briefs/generation-orbit-awarded-phase-i-sbir-grant.html | date=2014-07-09}} In October 2018, the designation X-60A was assigned to the GO1 vehicle.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wpafb.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1653238/us-air-force-designates-go1-hypersonic-flight-research-vehicle-as-x-60a/|title = U.S. Air Force Designates GO1 Hypersonic Flight Research Vehicle as X-60A|website=www.wpafb.af.mil| date=4 October 2018 }}
Applications of the X-60A include access to high altitudes for microgravity, astrophysics, hypersonics testing and research of avionics. On July 20, 2014, GO flew its first captive carry test platform using a Learjet 35.{{cite news | work=The Florida Times-Union | author= Nate Monroe | title=Spaceport test flight is a giant leap for launch facility in Jacksonville | url=http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2014-07-30/story/spaceport-test-flight-giant-leap-launch-facility-jacksonville | date=2014-07-30}}{{cite news | work=The Florida Times-Union | title=Guest column: Cecil Airport is poised to become a player in space industry | url=http://members.jacksonville.com/business/columnists/2014-09-11/story/guest-column-cecil-airport-poised-become-player-space-industry#.VBL3WaKeDa0.twitter | date=2014-09-11}}
References
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External links
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{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210826161431/https://generationorbit.com/x-60a/ |date=August 26, 2021 |title=https://generationorbit.com/x-60a}}
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Category:Commercial spaceflight