Rocket Racing League: Spreading Its Wings

by Leonard David, Senior Space Writer

Date: 14 September 2006 Time: 08:06 AM ET

Rocket Racing: New League Promotes High-Flying Contest

This artist's illustration envisions the flyby of a series of X-Racer rocket planes during a competition developed by the Rocket Racing League (RRL).
CREDIT: Rocket Racing League.

When the gates open on the X Prize Cup next month at the Las Cruces International Airport, New Mexico, visitors will get a first-hand feel for a new type of super-slick speedster--the rocket racer.

The Rocket Racing League is pushing the throttle forward in the development of a new sport--a NASCAR-style racing league utilizing rocket-powered aircraft flown by pilots through a "three-dimensional track" that's plainly sky-high.

For the motorsport-challenged among you, NASCAR stands for the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR), the largest sanctioned venue of its type in the United States. While NASCAR takes it to the roadway, the Rocket Racing League takes it to the air. The League is power-charged to accelerate technology in the areas of airframe, propulsion and spacecraft design--and have flat out fun at the same time.

Pit stops

In the early years of this new sport, each rocket-powered X-Racer will be based on an existing airframe, but modified to carry a 1,500 pound thrust rocket engine burning liquid oxygen and kerosene. The single-pilot, first generation Mark-1 X-Racer is expected to reach maximum speeds of more than 320 miles per hour.

X-Racers are designed to be rapidly refueled, a pit stop that would be on the order of five to ten minutes. Even faster refueling techniques are expected to be mastered as the Rocket Racing League develops over time.

Individual X-Racers will be capable of roughly four minutes of intermittent engine boost and 10 minutes of un-powered flight. That will permit three to four laps around the air course between pit stops.

The virtual airspace that X-Racers will speed through is some 10,000 feet long, 3,000 feet wide and 5,000 feet high. Pilots will navigate the course through use of Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite technology and a heads-up display within the cockpit. This virtual course may be supplemented with real obstacles such as inflatable pylons and balloons, as well as spotlights and lasers during nighttime races.

Technology: on track

Now busily at work on the Mark-1 X-Racer engine is XCOR Aerospace, headquartered in Mojave, California and known for its expertise in safe, reliable and reusable rocket engine development.

Jeff Greason, President of XCOR Aerospace, has noted that progress is being made on the rocket racer motor--including static test firings to 100 percent thrust on the engine. "We are proceeding with power plant development leading to safe, successful flight," Greason said in a recent XCOR press statement.

"We have fired the rocket motor for the racer repeatedly...and it's running within our time schedule," said James Busby of XCOR's media relations. The official designation of the liquid oxygen/kerosene powered engine is the XR4K14, he advised SPACE.com.

While progress is in the wind, the Rocket Racing League has raised a yellow flag on flying the Mark-1 X-Racer during the X Prize Cup festivities October 20-21 in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The League had hoped to accelerate the development schedule ahead of the vendor's commitment, but that has not been possible.

"We're holding off on flying until we're prepared from a business standpoint...it has nothing to do with the technology," said Granger Whitelaw, Chief Executive Officer for the Rocket Racing League. "The technology is 100 percent there. The vehicle and the engine are on track as far as that goes," he told SPACE.com.

The Rocket Racing League has already taken delivery of its company-owned Mark-1 X-Racer trainer, crafted by Velocity, Inc. of Sebastian, Florida. This plane--powered by piston engine--eventually to be replaced by rocket engine--will serve as a training vehicle for rocket racing pilots. A second Velocity, already owned by the League, is currently undergoing modifications, including the installation of a rocket engine, by XCOR Aerospace.

Competitive environment

Creating a brand-new 21st century sport like rocket racing is not without its challenges, Whitelaw explained. He's no stranger to blending business with high-speed hardware as a two-time Indianapolis 500 champion team partner.

"Just pulling everything together at the same time...it's all about execution for us," Whitelaw said. "There are so many different pieces that we're doing to bring out a major brand...a major sport in the aerospace/aeronautics world."

The Rocket Racing League was co-founded and chaired by X Prize founder Peter Diamandis.

Whitelaw highlighted the League's push in technology innovation. The competitive environment, the high-heat from racing conditions, and the professional feedback from the pilots - all this and other aspects allows the Rocket Racing League to serve as a test bed for research and development.

"There has never been that environment for aerospace or aeronautics...and now there's going to be," Whitelaw added.

Over the next week or two, as well as at October's X Prize Cup, Whitelaw concluded, standby for surprises. "We have some exciting things we're going to be announcing...so stay tuned."