HOTOL - A launch vehicle for the 21st century

HOTOL is a British Aerospace concept for a single-stage-to-orbit launch vehicle ready for operation at the turn of the century. HOTOL has a horizontal take-off and lifting flight for the early part of its ascent using a new form of air-breathing propulsion to reduce propellant requirements. At Mach 5 the vehicle converts to a rocket-powered launch vehicle ascent. The winged vehicle has good re-entry characteritics and a high cross-range, and using aircraft-like ground handling procedures should have fewer ground handling problems. The result is a vehicle which can be used often and cheaply to launch single payloads of about 7 tonnes into low earth orbit, and appears to be an attractive route for Europe to follow in considering next-generation launch vehicles as a replacement for the expendable Ariane.