A lifting body aircraft suitable for atmospheric flight and/or as a reentry vehicle.
The craft has a substantially flat upper surface, a lower surface with a doubly
convex first section and a flat sloping second section. The doubly convex first
section allows the craft to have its center of gravity forward of its longitudinal
center line. The flat sloping second half of the lower surface and the substantially
flat upper surface form the aft end of an airfoil. A pair of vertical stabilizers
enhance stability and include rudders which, along with a pair of elevons, provide
steerage. The craft may glide or it may have an engine or rockets for thrust. The
result is an extremely stable lifting body design that is well suited for launch
or conventional take off, insertion, orbital operations, reentry, atmospheric flight,
and conventional landings.