After more than three years of preparation, Titans Space Industries (TSI) has unveiled the design of its Titans Spaceplane, a single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) and horizontal takeoff and landing (HTHL) vehicle, influenced by the 1970s Star-Raker concept from Rockwell International. The Titans Spaceplane would also operate as a reusable first stage, launching other spacecraft destined for locations beyond low earth orbit.

The Spaceplane aims to redefine access and versatility in low-earth orbit (LEO) operations by combining SSTO with HTHL capabilities. While traditional rockets have supported space exploration, they typically encounter limitations such as vertical launch, high costs and reusability issues. TSI's SSTO spaceplanes are aimed at overcoming these obstacles, marking a significant shift in the aerospace sector.

Doug Kohl, COO of Titans Space Industries, says: “The Titans Spaceplane represents the future of space operations - sustainable, efficient and it can be used for a broad range of missions beyond just tourism, including space debris cleanup, disaster relief and large-scale launches.”

“Our design builds upon decades of innovation while addressing the challenges of today’s dynamic aerospace environment,” adds Franklin Ratliff, CTO of Titans Space Industries. “We benefit from Rockwell's Star-Raker concept and advances in terms of technologies, engineering and materials.”

Later this year, TSI hopes it will welcome its inaugural group of 40 "Titans Astronauts," each contributing $25 million to achieve a total investment of $1 billion. Thiese investments will support the establishment of critical manufacturing facilities, including:

- A dedicated spaceplane manufacturing hub.

- A propulsion factory for developing jet and rocket engines.

- An innovation centre for research focused on space operations.

The Titans Spaceplane aims to offer unmatched capacity for sub-orbital and orbital tourism, with an ability to carry up to 350 passengers and exceeding 100,000 kilograms of payload capacity for launches. It is designed for daily operations, allowing rapid launch turnaround times that significantly improve efficiency compared to traditional rockets.

“This vehicle is not just a testament to engineering - it’s a platform for humanity’s expansion into space,” says Neal S. Lachman, CEO of TSI. “By solving scalability challenges and ensuring economic viability, the Titans Spaceplane bridges the gap between Earth and orbit for commercial and humanitarian missions alike. Once operational, Titans spaceplanes -not vertically launched rockets - will dominate the LEO space industry and beyond due to their safe, efficient and low-cost capabilities.”

The company now plans to collaborate with academic institutions and industry partners while utilising multiple engine systems to optimise performance.