Philippines is developing 2 stage space exploration rocket with OrbitX Technologies
The Philippines’ first rocket company Orbital Exploration
Technologies announced its plans to develop a suborbital two-stage rocket,
OrbitX Haribon SLS-1, powered by a propellant of renewable kerosene derived from
waste plastics (OrbitX RP-2).
OrbitX was founded on June 2, 2019 Quezon City with vital team
of researchers and engineers (mechanical engineer, aerospace engineer and
chemical engineer) and an IT expert.
OrbitX is environment centered organization that focuses not
just the space exploration project but also using the wastes as primary
materials in developing space fuel. They use the waste and deploy the process
called pyrolysis as fuel which are similar to rocket grade kerosene or RP-1.
Solving two problems: sustaining earth and accessing space. Also in the
research phase which is a methane fuel from algae in partnership with Polytechnic University of
the Philippines.
OrbitX aimed three immediate goals for our Haribon SLS
vehicles:
* Provide cheaper, greener and highly sustainable launch
provider for satellites and other payloads;
* Bring people to space (space tourism); and
* Solve the space junk problem.
OrbitX claimed that are in Technology Readiness Level 4.
They were funded pre-COVID by Genix Ventures through Michael Alexander Montoya,
a US citizen (release affected by the pandemic). Their partnerships and
affiliations include Space4Impact and Space Impulse, the Green Party of the
Philippines, Polytechnic University of the Philippines and the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources. We are currently competing in China-ASEAN
New Smart City Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition.
OrbitX aimed to become the global pioneer of waste to energy
for space technology, and to be able to provide technologies that will benefit
both earth and space in the long run. They wanted to be a major provider of
cheap, green and sustainable space access to developing countries like the
Philippines while preserving the earth.
Green launches
Orbital Exploration Technologies, The Philippines’ first
commercial spaceflight company, is working on developing its own launch
vehicles with the aim of providing green, low-cost and sustainable launches.
The startup, founded by Dexter P. Baño Jr., will create a
space launch system that will be powered by renewable kerosene derived from
waste plastics. It has named this proprietary fuel OrbitX RP-2, after the
refined kerosene RP-1 typically used in rockets.
OrbitX RP-2 will be used to power OrbitX Haribon SLS-1, a
suborbital two-stage rocket that could launch payloads of up 200kg, which the
startup will develop with a targeted launch date of 2023-24. The rocket is
designed to achieve 844kN of thrust, and will be 12.02 metres high.
Orbital Exploration Technologies, using its OrbitX Haribon
SLS-1, hopes to conduct 6 launches a year. Each launch is projected to cost
US$4.959 million, which the company says will be 13% cheaper compared to Rocket
Lab’s Electron. The company has secured an initial funding of US$50,000 from
angel investors.
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