Roton (rocket)

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Roton Atmospheric Test Vehicle

Roton is the name of a rocket. It was designed by Rotary Rocket Inc., California , as part of a commercial, reusable, manned, single-stage launch vehicle development project . Roton was supposed to take off vertically, place the payload in earth orbit and then land again with a rotor system similar to that of a helicopter . A payload of up to 3200 kg was to be brought into an orbit at an altitude of 300 km and an orbit inclination of 50 ° and, optionally, a payload should also be brought back from orbit. The fuel was liquid oxygen and RP-1intended. The takeoff weight should be 180 tons. The missile should be 19.5 m high and have a base diameter of 6.70 m.

Scheduled for 1998, commercial operations should begin as early as 2000, at a cost of just seven million US dollars per launch.

In 1999, a 19.5 m high prototype called Atmospheric Test Vehicle was used for a few test flights at low altitude. Even the prototype had a crew of two. The project was discontinued for financial and technical reasons and the company was dissolved in 2001.

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Commons : Roton  - album with pictures, videos and audio files