This is the "Ascender". It is a combined rocket and jet-powered aerodynamic craft. In operation, it takes off from a normal commercial airport runway, climbs to around 40,000 feet. At that height, the 10 tonne thrust rocket motor is ignited, the jet engines are shut down and the craft, with one pilot and two passengers climbs to just over 100km above the Earth. The occupants experience around 4 minutes of weightlessness, ending as the craft begins to decelerate on the way down.

On regaining the lower atmosphere, the Ascender decelerates to a normal cruising speed and the jet engines are re-ignited, so that the Ascender can perform a controlled runway landing.

Although the Ascender was designed some years ago, it has remained unfunded to this day, apart from some partial support from the UK Government's Department of Trade and industry, for a feasibility study.

The Ascender was entered into the X-Prize competition, but, in common with many others of the X-Prize teams, no progress was made.