Tupolev Tu-2000

Tu-2000
Role Hypersonic technology demonstrator
Manufacturer Tupolev OKB
Status Cancelled
Number built 0
Variants Tupolev Tu-360

The Tupolev Tu-2000 was a planned hypersonic experimental aircraft designed by the Tupolev design bureau. It was intended to test technologies for a single stage to orbit aerospaceplane and also the Tupolev Tu-360 intercontinental bomber.

Design and development

Development of the Tu-2000 was initiated in 1986 as a Soviet response to the U.S. Rockwell X-30 project.[1] Following the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia took over the project and pursued it until 1992, when it was suspended due to lack of funds.[2]

The experimental technology demonstrator would have weighed 70-90 metric tons and measured 196 feet long, while the single-stage-to-orbit vehicle would have weighed 210-280 metric tons and carried a maximum payload of 10 metric tons into earth orbits 124-249 miles (200-400 km) high.[3]

Specifications (Single-stage-to-orbit design)

Data from [3]

General characteristics

  • Crew: two
  • Capacity: 8,000 kilograms (18,000 lb) payload
  • Length: 72 m (236 ft 3 in)
  • Wingspan: 14 m (45 ft 11 in)
  • Diameter: 13 m (42 ft 8 in)
  • Max takeoff weight: 280,000 kg (617,294 lb)
  • Powerplant: 6 × Liquid hydrogen (LH2) with liquid oxygen (LOX – as oxidizer) Turbo jet/scramjet

Performance

  • Maximum speed: Mach 25 (in orbit)

References

  1. ↑ Tu-2000
  2. ↑ " Tu-2000 ", astronautix.com, Retrieved 24 April 2010
  3. 1 2 Gordon and Komissarov, 2013. Unflown Wings. Birmngham: Ian Allen Publishing. p. 75
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