The holy grail of small satellite launch is a cost of $1 million or less per launch, and DARPA’s been chasing it for years. The F-15 offered the potential to launch small satellites from anywhere the powerful fighter could reach, which was most places. But before the testing of fighter-borne launches could proceed, a specific rocket fuel had to work. And at two tests this year, that fuel failed spectacularly. Space News reports: Without a stable propellant, DARPA has abandoned plans to use the F-15 as a satellite mothership. Instead, they will pursue small satellite launch through other means … such as an experimental spaceplane.
