Tags: Switzerland, NASA, Satellite Launch, European Space Agency, Launch Vehicle
Publication: Sen.com
Publication Date: 04/05/2013

artist’s impression of the Airbus A300 carrying S3’s shuttle. Image credit: Swiss Space Systems

A new Swiss company is planning to build a spaceport to offer cheap access to orbit for small satellites. Swiss Space Systems (S3) is working on an unmanned suborbital mini shuttle based on a previous European design called Hermes.

S3 is not planning to launch the shuttle using rocket launch vehicles but instead using an Airbus A300. The aircraft would take the shuttle up to about 33,000 feet of altitude where it would launch. The shuttle would then glide back to the spaceport in Switzerland to be prepared for its next flight.

This system will allow S3 to launch satellites weighing up to around 550 pounds at a total cost of approximately $10 million – a quarter of the current cost of a satellite launch. The company expects to have the system ready for launch by 2017.

S3 is using already developed European and NASA technology, the company expects to save money on research and be able to develop the system for about $260 million. The company has established partnerships with the European Space Agency (ESA), Dassault Aviation, the Von Karman Institute and Sonaca.

Initially, S3 will use the Swiss airport of Payerne as its spaceport but other countries such as Malaysia and Morocco have offered partnerships for this effect.

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