Suspended by a tether from a forklift crane, Masten Space Systems' prototype Xaero launch vehicle is gently lowered onto its pad at the Mojave Air and Space Port prior to a tethered hot-fire test of its rocket motor on May 6, 2011.
Xaero Rocket Tethered Hot-fire Test
ED11-0139-38
Suspended by a tether from a forklift crane, Masten Space Systems’ prototype Xaero launch vehicle is gently lowered onto its pad at the Mojave Air and Space Port prior to a tethered hot-fire test of its rocket motor on May 6, 2011. Under the auspices of NASA’s Flight Opportunities Program, Masten is developing the Xaero as a candidate for a suborbital reusable launch vehicle that can expose technology payloads to space-relevant reduced gravity or near-space flight environments. Xaero is expected to be able to carry a 10 kg payload to approximately 100,000 feet altitude.
May 6, 2011
NASA Photo / Tom Tschida