HOTOL - Spaceplane of the future

HOTOL was a 1980s British project to build a totally reusable Space Shuttle. The project was cancelled and as it existed in the pre-internet age it's hard to find information about it.

Whilst I was making my Spaceplanes video I came across a HOTOL brochure from 1985. I thought I would go through it and give an overview of this extremely interesting project.

For an explanation of why I think SSTO spaceplanes are the future of space travel check out my spaceplanes video:

I'd like to thank the Secret Projects Forum as the source for a lot of the resources used in making this video:

The background rolling Earth orbit video is from:
"ORBIT - A Journey Around Earth in Real Time"

[TheBigBowks]

My mother worked at UMIST in the 90s and had a half profile fluid dynamics model of the HOTOL hung on her office wall.

[Brookspirit]

I remember HOTOL from when i was a kid, I'm still waiting for it.

[julopabene]

This is fascinating, and honestly gives me hope for Skylon, seeing how much work already went into making a project like it work.
Great work on this video, a really good watch!

[IanValentine]

I remember it from when I had my first job at BAe, so exciting. This is the best description of the project I have ever seen. Thank you!

[richardvernon]

I once met somebody who worked on the Project and asked her why the project was cancelled. Her reply, We cocked the maths up and it wouldn't have worked.

[Charlie-UK]

My father worked as lead designer on the engines for Hotol at Rolls-Royce. Alan Bond is a hero. Work on the new generation of Reaction engines SSTO engine plods on. I hope I see it in my lifetime...

[paulmakinson]

A few of the engineers that worked on Hotol (Alan Bond, Richard Varvill) went on to create Reaction Engines and the project to build the Skylon SSTO spaceplane. They are working with the European Space Agency and Lockheed Martin to develop the SABRE engine that uses the same ideas as Hotol. They have created a functional precooler that does not frost. Liquid nitrogen is used as the heat transportation fluid.

[BigCar]

Great video explaining the life of HOTOL!

[paulwestwood]

The Hotol project developed into the Skylon under Reaction Engines. But even this may have changed to a two stage launch system. The consistent component is the Sabre engine being developed by Reaction Engines. Hopefully, this will give you some key words to go on.

[LuciFeric]

The abandonment of the X33 was a real shame. They had around 60% airframe completed.

[drawingboard]

Dude this is fantastic. I remember Hotol as a kid and you've done a great job.

[hempsellastro]

From someone who saw this story from the inside can I say another good job. What you have there is what we called the “Prince Charles brochure, ” so guess who it was originally prepared for, but I am not sure if he ever saw it.  It did not describe the engine properly because, as you said, it was a secret. However, the RB545 is described in "HOTOL's Secret Engines Revealed", Spaceflight, Vol 35 No 5, May 1993.  And, yes; the undercarriage mass due to take off loads was the concern leading to the take-off trolly - that nobody ever thought was a good idea. It was brilliantly worked around by Alan Bond and Richard Varvill when they revamped HOTOL to become Skylon.

[newsteada]

Fascinating trip back. Like you I followed this very closely during the early eighties, I was actually an apprentice at RR in Derby at the time. I have a copy of this brochure which I picked up at a Farnborough Airshow around that time. One of the moments which I remember vividly was attending a lecture given by Bob Parkinson of BAC, who was the engineer in charge of the project and one of the things he said was that they had basicly solved the autonomous flight control issues using the EAP aircraft technology demonstrator that lead to the Typhoon fighter. As he put it, "we could fly the EAP with a Teddy bear in the pilot's seat!" Interestingly unmanned aircraft are the big news in combat aircraft now and BAe have been doing a lot of work on this that may be leading into their Tempest project.

[andylaweda]

The trolley launch meant that the undercarriage didn't need hydraulic systems to retract the gear after take-off. The landing undercarriage dropped under gravity with no hydraulics to save weight.

[iancash]

Followed HOTOL since Tomorrow's World, fortunate to have since met two of the Three Rocketeers. Love the little Easter Egg at the very, very end! Subscribed...

[jimmarburger]

I remember this project, and was excited at the time. Like other projects of this sort it was canceled due to lack of cargo capacity, engineering problems and lack of funding. Thank you for the content, I'd like to see this concept work and love reading about Skylon. Hopefully they can solve the problems associated with these concepts.

[RobSchofield]

I'd love to hear a follow-up to this, as your presentation style is superb.

[wingnutzster]

As an aeronautical concept artist I can tell you that the creative decision to portray the take off out of a country airport is purely for the aesthetics of presentation, I imagine there was some direction from the client to avoid setting the take off in developed or built up areas. For the period the illustrations are quite technical and intricate but the engine is a difficult concept to relay to the average joe. Ideas like this have a life and a character and when they die it makes me sad.

[Eff-U-Kay]

Great narration. As a kid I was obsessed with this. Didn't understand any of the mechanics but nevertheless fascinated by it.
I was in a book I owned as a child which sadly I lost. I think it was a kids encyclopedia.

[bmobert]

Thank you. I remember loads of hype about HOTOL but never heard any of the details.