Wickman Spacecraft & Propulsion Company (WSPC) is working on developing a Spaceplane based on NASA’s SHARP thermal protection system, which enables sharp edges on reentry vehicles. The initial application of the SHARP Spaceplane will be a hypersonic bomber capable of rapid, high launch rates to orbit to deploy Common Aero Vehicles (CAVs) or put satellites into orbit. This hypersonic space bomber will evolve into a larger spaceplane capable of carrying passengers.

The SHARP thermal protection system and basic aerodynamic design originates from the NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California. The key to maintaining the sharp edges of the vehicle during reentry is the revolutionary SHARP thermal protection material. It can withstand heat and aerodynamic forces that will destroy Space Shuttle tiles. The advantages of WSPC’s sharp edge spaceplanes over conventional blunt body vehicles are numerous.