Boeing Quits Phantom Express Space Shuttle Development Program

The XSP program was opened by DARPA in 2013 to create a reusable launch vehicle for cheap and fast launch

satellites into orbit.DARPA specified as characteristics that the payload mass should be no less than 1.4 tons, and the cost of one launch should not exceed $5 million. Moreover, the device must withstand frequent launches - 10 launches in 10 days with virtually no maintenance.

In 2017, Boeing won the DARPA contest withPhantom Express project and received $ 146 million for the development and testing of the device in the last stage of the competition. Three years later, the company closed Phantom Express with little explanation. Representatives of Boeing only specified that they decided to abandon development after a "detailed study of the project."

Phantom Express consisted of two devices: reusable spacecraft, which was used as the first stage, and the second stage with a payload. Phantom Express was supposed to reach a length of 30 m, and the wingspan of the device was 19 m. It was planned to install an AR-22 engine running on hydrogen and oxygen in the device.

At the same time, Boeing has its own spacecraft creation project - X-37B. Recently, the device performed its longest space flight, which lasted 780 days.