Artist concept of X-33 and VentureStar Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV)

WASHINGTON, DC, UNITED STATES

09.23.2009

Courtesy Photo

NASA

An artist's conception showing the relative sizes of the X-33 (left) and the proposed operational VentureStar. Although about the same shape, the VentureStar would be twice the size of the half scale X-33. The added size was necessary to accommodate a large payload bay, and the increased fuel supply needed to reach orbital speeds of Mach 25+. The VentureStar was intended to be a low-cost, reusable launch vehicle, while the X-33 fabricated to test the advanced technologies needed to build it. With the cancellation of the X-33 in February 2001, the VentureStar effort also ended.

NASA Identifier: NIX-ED97-43938-1

• Date Taken: 09.23.2009
• Date Posted: 10.17.2012 21:43
• Photo ID: 735834
• Resolution: 1536x1321
• Size: 368.46 KB
• Location: WASHINGTON, DC, US