ALV

ALV X1 [ATK]

ATK was undergoing a four-phase development process that would have ultimately lead to the development of a family of low-cost, operationally responsive launch vehicles capable of delivering 200 to 750 kg to LEO.

The first phase, ALV X-1, which is already in testing, will be a sounding rocket program launched from Wallops Flight Facility. It consists of an Orion-50SXLG stage of Pegasus / OBV heritage and an thrust vectored Star-37FMV motor as second stage.

The second phase, for which funding has already been secured, will consist of a two-stage, three-axis controlled vehicle capable of reaching suborbital heights of up to 2,000 kilometers. The unfunded third phase will be scaled-up version of the Phase Two vehicle capable of delivering 225 - 350 kg to LEO, while the fourth phase, contingent on government funding, would involve an advanced vehicle based on new technologies.

ATK expected to begin work on the third-phase vehicle in 2007 or 2008, and hopes that the success of the third-phase vehicle will attract government investment to allow development of the fourth-phase vehicle in 2008 or 2009.

In 2008 it appeared, that only the protoype would be flown as a demonstrator, but no further flights were planned.