The K2X Project: Design of a 2nd Generation Reusable Launch Vehicle

The K2X project was initiated by Prof. A. Bruckner in response to a design competition announced by Kistler Aerospace in fall of 1998. The goal of the competition was the design of the next generation of the Kistler Aerospace K1 Reusable Launch Vehicle.

Other than the UW, Texas A&M, and another Australian university also participated in the design competition. The UW team came in first place. A brief overview (below), the slides for a summary presentation, a resulting publication, and a media gallery are available.

The K2X (Kistler 2 Experimental) is a two stage to orbit, vertical take-off, horizontal landing, autonomous RLV. The first stage (LAP) utilizes lifting surfaces and air-breathing propulsion to return to the original launch site and perform a controlled horizontal landing. The second stage (OV) is a cylindrical spacecraft with small aerodynamic control surfaces, and uses parachutes for the final phase of its descent.

Both stages use derivatives of the NK-33/43 RP1/LOX rocket engines developed for the Soviet Lunar program. Several advanced technologies are incorporated into the design of both vehicle stages, including the attitude control systems, and vehicle thermal protection system.

The economic viability of the K2X concept was examined and three target missions were identified for the design: multiple satellite deployment in LEO, supply missions to the International Space Station, and injection of payloads into geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO). In order to accommodate GTO payloads, an orbital transfer stage was also developed. The operations and performance of the completed design were investigated and compared to the performance of the K1 and other existing launch vehicles.

Due to system optimization and judicious use of advanced technologies, the payload performance of K2X design is increased by 200% when compared to the K1; while launch pad mass increases by only 73%, without sacrificing the standards for economic viability and overall system simplicity set forth by the existing K1 RLV.