Northrop Grumman is addressing U.S. Air Force requirements for responsive space access by developing a rapid-turnaround launch system that combines a reusable first stage with expendable upper stages. Launched vertically, the hybrid launch vehicle's winged first stage boosts the upper stages to speeds approaching Mach 7 before releasing them at an altitude of approximately 150,000 feet. The first stage then flies back to its home based like an unmanned aerial vehicle. Image Credit: Northrop Grumman Corp.
