The last decade of the second millennium saw the emergence of the idea of sending payloads into space with reusable launch vehicles (RLVs). It appeared to make economic sense to reuse a launch vehicle that cost as much as a small airliner, rather than...

A reusable launch vehicle (RLV) is a craft designed to place payloads or crews into Earth orbit, and then return to Earth for subsequent launches. RLVs are designed to reduce launch costs by reusing the most expensive components of the vehicle rather...

A reusable launch system (or RLV: reusable launch vehicle) is a launch vehicle which is capable of launching into space more than once. This contrasts with expendable launch systems, where each launch vehicle is launched once and then discarded. No true...

Lockheed Martin's X-33 single-stage-to-orbit reusable launch vehicle uses an advanced metallic Thermal Protection System developed by Rohr Inc. The system is a heat shield designed to prevent the craft from burning during its re-entry into the earth's atmosphere. The system utilizes a nickel-based superalloy...

Insurance capacity needs to be expanded to accommodate the hull coverage requirements of the new launch vehicles being developed by NASA and Lockheed Martin Skunk Works. The vehicles may need as much as $2 billion coverage. Current capacity is only about $850 million. Space...