BLACK ARMADILLO

Armadillo Aerospace is a research and development team headed and funded by computer games entrepreneur John Carmack. The Texas-based team has already developed small manned and unmanned atmospheric test landers powered by hydrogen peroxide rockets. Armadillo Aerospace is now competing for the X-Prize with what it believes to be the simplest possible design. The rocket, dubbed Black Armadillo, is powered by four hydrogen peroxide engines feeding from a 1000 gallon composite fuel tank. A computer takes attitude measurements from gyroscopes and uses those measurements to throttle the engines 200 times per second, stabilizing the craft. The pilot can also steer the rocket via joystick. The pilot and two passengers sit with their backs to the nosecone. This unusual position is taken to ensure that the occupants encounter reentry deceleration on their backs as the vehicle reenters the atmosphere nose first. Ascent acceleration is considered by Armadillo Aerospace to be mild enough to permit the unorthodox seating arrangement. The rocket lifts off vertically, and at burnout coasts up to 100 km (62.5 miles). The rocket makes a nose-first reentry, with foam insulation protecting the aluminum nose section from reentry heating. A drogue chute frees the main parachute, and landing is cushioned by an expendable aluminum nose cap that compresses on touchdown.