The Return of Starchaser
Announcing Nova 2
by Alan Breakstone
Flight International's Rob Coppinger reports that Starchaser is building a new manned rocket.
Starchaser's July 1 announcement of the Nova
2 vehicle (which was scooped by HobbySpace's Clark Lindey several days earlier) reveals a single-seat reusable suborbital rocket serving as a preliminary step to the company's Thunderstar tourist craft.
During the Ansari X-Prize
competition, Starchaser built the Nova
1 single-seat test rocket. But Nova
1 was launched only once -- a low-altitude unmanned flight -- before
Burt Rutan
and his rocketeers won the X-Prize
with SpaceShipOne
in 2004. Starchaser went semi-underground after that, mainly engaging in educational programs in the public sphere, though it also expressed interest in New Mexico's fledgling Spaceport America
.
Now, it looks as if Starchaser is chasing the stars once again. Much about Nova
2 remains a mystery, although photos can be found on the company's website, here. Whether the British company has the funding to complete and fly Nova
2 remains to be seen. We'll be keeping our eyes open.
Starchaser's July 1 announcement of the Nova
During the Ansari X-Prize
Now, it looks as if Starchaser is chasing the stars once again. Much about Nova