An unmanned British space plane is on course to start carrying payloads into orbit in less than ten years provided that it can pass the engine test in June.

After hurdling several rigorous independent design reviews, the Skylon, which is being developed by Reaction Engines Ltd, is still a concept vehicle for now. Funds from private companies have been allocated to see the Skylon through all the stages of development, which will culminate with commercial flights by 2020. According to Roger Longstaff, the $350 million investor funds will be dependent on the engines working.

The Skylon was designed using the concept of horizontal take-off landing, initially mapped out by British researchers during the 1980s. The Skylon can be launched into orbit and return to earth similar to an airplane, taking off and landing on a runway. With a length of 276 feet and weight of 303 tons, it is considered as a spaceship behemoth. The International Space Station is 357 ½ feet long and weighs approximately 408 tons making it the largest spacecraft ever constructed.

Initially, it will have a payload capacity of 11.3 tons but Longstaff bared that future spacecrafts will be able to carry 16.5 tons worth of payload. The Skylon has the ability to make frequent space flights. It can be launched into orbit two days after landing and can make 200 flights throughout its lifetime.

Initially, it will only carry cargo but eventually it can carry 30 passengers with minimal modifications. A pressurized passenger module can be fitted into the Skylon’s payload bay in lieu of a cargo container.

Compared to the space shuttles of NASA as well as other space designs, the Skylon does not need booster rockets to launch it into orbit. It is designed to go into orbit on its own using a hybrid jet rocket engine called SABRE, which burns hydrogen and oxygen to generate thrust. During the initial stages of the flight, the engine would function like a jet breathing oxygen from atmospheric air until the Skylon achieves an altitude of 16 miles and a speed of Mach 5.

Afterwards, the SABRE would perform the more traditional rocket functions by combusting onboard hydrogen and oxygen for the remaining part of the flight. This would result to a great amount of liquid oxygen being saved. According to Reaction Engines officials, this would result to lower costs and higher payload capacity.

Want to earn some spare money as a writer for us? Send us an email!