Project Enterprise

Project Enterprise was launched by the German TALIS Institute in 2004 and is the first project
of its kind in Europe. The goal is to develop a rocket-propelled spaceplane by 2011 that
will carry one pilot and up to five passengers into suborbital space. The plane will launch
from the ground using rockets, and will return in an unpowered flight like Virgin Galactic's
SpaceShipTwo. The prototypes and finished spaceplane will be launched from an airport near
Cochstedt (Germany; Saxony-Anhalt).

Since 2004, the TALIS Institute has gained many industrial partners, including XtremeAir,
who will manufacture the airframe, and Swiss Propulsion Laboratory SPL,
who will deliver the propulsion components. XtremeAir is known for their acrobatic airplanes,
and SPL has designed and tested liquid propellant rocket engines since 1998.

Current work is focusing on the first prototype, the "Black Sky": An existing acrobatic
airplane that would be fitted with a single rocket engine and a new wing. The rocket engine
is expected to deliver a thrust of 10 kN. The test program for this engine started in 2007
at SPL and is expected to fly by 2010.