single-stage-to-orbit
thumb|upright=1.2|The VentureStar was a proposed SSTO [[spaceplane.]]
Article
20 sectionsContents
- History
- Early concepts
- DC-X technology
- Roton
- Approaches
- Dense versus hydrogen fuels
- One engine for all altitudes
- Airbreathing SSTO
- Launch assists
- Nuclear propulsion
- Beam-powered propulsion
- Design challenges inherent in SSTO
- Examples
- Current development
- Skylon
- Alternative approaches to inexpensive spaceflight
- See also
- Further reading
- References
- External links
thumb|upright=1.2|The VentureStar was a proposed SSTO [[spaceplane.]]
A single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) vehicle reaches orbit from the surface of a body using only propellants and fluids and without expending tanks, engines, or other major hardware. The term usually, but not exclusively, refers to reusable vehicles. To date, no Earth-launched SSTO launch vehicles have ever been flown; orbital launches from Earth have been performed by multi-stage rockets, either fully or partially expendable.